FIFA's Comment Is Not Directed At NFF-Aisha Falode
*Insists FIFA will not pay the players directly but through the FAs.
A board member of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Aisha Falode, has said that contrary to reports by some media outlets, the statement by the Federation of International Football, FIFA, through its Secretary-General, Fatima Samoura, is not directed at the NFF.
While speaking with the Falcons after defeating the current FIFA Women World Cup co-host, Australia, Samoura told the players that FIFA decided to pay all players directly because of the fear that they will be shortchanged by the football federation.
“I am surprised when people misinterpret information to the public. When Nigeria booked the ticket for the second round of the Women’s World Cup, the FIFA secretary asked us to take her to the dressing room to congratulate the players.
“In one of the statements, the Secretary said it is because of players like you we decided to pay these allowances. The secretary was not referring only to the Super Falcons at that point on this statement. It would be recalled that various women national teams, which include Falcons, the South Africa women’s team and other teams in the world have been at loggerheads with their federations over the payment of allowances over the years.
Falode insists that the media reports got it wrong by interpreting the statement to mean that the Secretary-General was directly referring to the NFF.
She also insists that FIFA will not be paying the players directly as claimed in the reports.
According to her, FIFA will not pay the players directly. Instead, the organization give the funds to the different FAs but monitor the disbursement.
“So it is wrong for some media outlets to report that the statements is based on the financial issues Nigeria have with players.
“FIFA cannot deal with players directly. All funds would be given to the various federations, which would be monitored by FIFA. The report that FIFA will pay Super Falcons direct is total false. All teams at the World Cup would be paid through their various federations,” she said.
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