And while the FFB could not spend those monies on salaries to keep those employees employed during the pandemic, they are waiting for COVID relief funds that FIFA will make available.
At the end of April, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino announced that they were releasing all operational funding to the member associations for the year 2019 and 2020. That would directly translate to 150 million US dollars, which was to be distributed among 211 national football governing bodies around the world.
The dissenting voices within the Belizean football community have pointed to this pending funds as a possible means by which the FFB could have kept its full staff employed during these trying times.
When we asked about those relief funds from FIFA, the General Secretary told us today that Belize hasn't received its portion as yet:
Earl Jones - General Secretary, FFB
"There's nothing on that fund as yet. We had done surveys. We have had meetings with FIFA. They are still working on how that fund will be disbursed, what will be coming, whether it's a loan, whether it's a grant, how we will operate the funds. So, all that information is still pending. We are hoping to hear from FIFA by the end of the month. That's what they're saying that they probably will be informing us before the end of June. So, hopefully, we can hear about what is coming, and how we will then be able to assist our clubs, our players, our officials, and the football family. But, I know the executive is eagerly awaiting to hear from FIFA as to what is coming so that we can know how to assist."
Email
Print