FAI set for €12m bonus from Euro 2016 qualification

Securing qualification for next year’s European Championship finals will result in a guaranteed €12m bonus for the financially-stricken FAI, with increments on offer for points and progression.

Uefa’s healthy cash inflows from broadcasting deals have helped increase their prize pot by 50% on the sums received by qualifiers, including Ireland, for the last Euros in 2012. Under the new criteria, each draw earned during the group phase accrues €750,000, a victory secures €1.5m with another €2m on offer for emerging from the four-nation group.

Also set to generate income in the run-up to next June’s tournament are the two friendly matches, including a send-off game to France.

Instead of playing their next match on March 25 against Switzerland in front of a half-empty Aviva Stadium had they failed to qualify, the association can expect renewed interest in tickets.

It is common practice, too, for their deals with lead sponsors Three, Umbro and Airtricity, to include qualification bonuses, which will now be triggered.

The bonanza is badly needed by the FAI, given latest available accounts for the association, to year-end 2014, showed debts of €51.2m.

That predicament resulted from the failed Premium Ticket scheme launched in 2010 designed to meet their €74m share of the stadium redevelopment costs.

Irish football has suffered since, notably League of Ireland clubs who for the past two seasons have played for a prize fund 80% less than the pot available before debts crippled cashflow in Abbotstown.

International players also took a hit, with Ireland goalkeeper Emma Byrne bemoaning the withdrawal by the FAI of the players’ daily allowance while on duty. Many of the squad members take unpaid leave from their jobs.

Another cohort watching events closely are the association’s development officers, who took a 10% pay drop in salary as part of staff pay cut in 2012. Last year’s wage bill, including the €360,000 paid to chief executive John Delaney, totalled €8.75m.