901 European clubs have received a record combined $413.7m AUD from the UEFA EURO 2024 Club Benefits Programme.
Clubs from each of the 55 member associations were supported, ranging from the highest tiers of play to amateur football.
Designed to support clubs who had released players to their national teams across the 2020/2024 cycle of European competitions, the Club Benefits Programme aided clubs through events such as the 2020/21 and 2022/23 UEFA Nations League, European Qualifiers 2022–24 and the UEFA EURO 2024 final tournament.
The mechanisms for the distribution of payments were devised by the UEFA Executive Committee in April 2022. In accordance with these mechanisms, $177m was reserved for the 2020/21 and 2022/23 UEFA Nations League as well as the European Qualifiers to UEFA EURO 2024.
Across these periods, $163m was distributed, a significant increase upon the previous cycle’s $124m distribution. The remaining $14m was saved for the next distribution cycle.
Furthermore, the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament itself saw an increase in the amount of money distributed for the release of players – growing from $230.8m to $248.6m, supporting 196 clubs from 29 UEFA national associations.
Additionally, the overall $413.7m supplied to European clubs is a major increase on the $355m distributed in the previous cycle.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin expressed the organisation’s joy for the success of the programme.
“It is fantastic to see clubs of all sizes and levels, across the entire football pyramid, receiving financial rewards for their vital role in developing players who contribute to the success of our national team competitions – including the highly successful UEFA EURO 2024 final tournament,” he said in a press release.
“Every success of our competitions is a shared one, and this benefits programme is another testament to that principle, recognising the dedication of those who work tirelessly to make European football the greatest sport in the world. When football thrives, everyone benefits.”
Chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), Nasser Al-Khelaïfi highlighted the importance of the ECA’s and UEFA’s combined efforts in creating the Club Benefits Programme.
“I am very pleased see that more than 900 clubs from all corners of Europe have benefited from this unprecedented distribution under the Club Benefits Programme, which is a key pillar of UEFA and ECA’s Memorandum of Understanding,” he said in a statement.
“This initiative recognises that clubs play a vital role in the ongoing success of national team football through developing, employing and releasing players; and also that the national team game in-turn drives the development of clubs and their communities.
“This harmonious relationship perfectly reflects the great collaboration between UEFA and ECA today, driving growth, innovation and the positive development of European football in the interests of all.”
To learn which clubs benefited from the programme, and the amount they received – see this list.
