Clubs reap benefits of players at World Cup

Stars like Andre Schurrle helped Chelsea earn more than $1 million from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Premier League’s traditional top-four powers have all netted seven-figure sums from last summer’s tournament in Brazil.

Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City received the hefty payments from Fifa in recognition of their top players’ exploits at the world game’s showpiece event.

Stamford Bridge midfielder Schurrle helped Germany go all the way to the title in South America, boosting the Blues’ Fifa payment in return. Governing body Fifa has distributed $70m (€59m) to clubs across the globe, with each outfit rewarded for the number of players who attended the World Cup.

Bayern Munich received the world’s highest club payment, of $1.7m (€1.44m).

* Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct for comments made about match officials after last month’s draw at Southampton. Mourinho claimed a “clear campaign” by “people, pundits, commentators and coaches from other teams” against Chelsea and labelled the booking of Cesc Fabregas for diving at St Mary’s on Dec 28 a “scandal“.