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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

Sarina Wiegman demands FA solve World Cup bonuses row with Lionesses

Sarina Wiegman has called for the dispute between England players and the FA over World Cup bonuses to be settled before the tournament starts next week.

Players are unhappy that some rival countries, such as the United States, are set to receive performance-related bonuses from their national associations and they are not.

The row is overshadowing the build-up to the World Cup and there is no sign of a breakthrough, with just a week until the tournament kicks off next Thursday.

Lionesses head coach Wiegman (left) said: "Of course I hope it is solved quickly and before the tournament starts. As a coach, you want it solved. I'm not involved in those discussions, it is something between the players and the FA. The players have not been speaking to me about it.

"They are very focused in training sessions and meetings. I just know it is something that needs to be solved and I hope there will be a quick solution."

For the first time at a Women's World Cup, players will receive individual payments directly from FIFA depending on how far they progress in Australia and New Zealand.

This money ranges from £23,500 for players whose teams are knocked out in the group stage, to £211,000 if they win the tournament.

It is understood that means the England squad will receive more money this summer than they would have earned from FA bonuses at previous World Cups.

Previously, FIFA distributed money to national associations, who would then distribute it to players. That money will now be distributed straight to players.

The FA argue the direct payments from FIFA to be a suitable replacement for their bonuses, as they come from the same pot of money it would have been given, and from which they would have made payments.

But the overall pool of money available to federations and players has risen significantly, from £23million to £76.6m, and the players believe the FA, who claim to be a world-leading federation, are being put in the shade by other countries.

England players also argue the FA will benefit commercially the further they progress at the tournament, and believe they deserve more.

The United States, Australia and Spain are paying bonuses to players as well as the FIFA money. Other leading nations in the tournament, such as Germany, have taken a similar view to the

FA and will not be giving performance-related bonuses to players.

England play their first game at the World Cup next Saturday, when they face Haiti in Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

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