How the 2010 World Cup started paying clubs for lending players
Clubs had long grumbled that they paid players' wages while national teams borrowed them and sent some home injured. At South Africa's 2010 World Cup, FIFA finally paid up, handing domestic clubs 40 million dollars in a deal that ended years of compensation claims and disbanded Europe's G-14 club lobby.
The grievance had concrete cases behind it. Belgian side Charleroi wanted money after Abdelmajid Oulmers was hurt playing a friendly for Morocco in 2004, and Newcastle United sought compensation when Michael Owen was injured at the 2006 World Cup. In 2008 FIFA and the big European clubs struck a bargain: the G-14 group would dissolve and drop its claims dating back to 2005, and clubs would share in tournament revenue for the first time.
That club money formed part of a total pot of 420 million dollars, sixty percent more than in 2006. Every one of the 32 finalists got a million dollars up front for preparation. After that the reward climbed with each round survived: 8 million for a group-stage exit, 9 million for losing in the last sixteen, 14 million for a quarter-final defeat, and 30 million for the champions.
Those champions were Spain, who beat the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time in Johannesburg. They became the first European side to win the trophy outside Europe and the first team to take the title after losing their opening match. Several venues sat high up, with six of the ten above 1,200 metres and the two Johannesburg grounds near 1,750 metres, enough to affect how the ball flew.
Africa hosted as part of a rotation policy that FIFA dropped in 2007. South Africa beat Morocco 14 votes to 10 in 2004, with Egypt receiving none, and Nelson Mandela lifted the trophy on the announcement. In 2015, however, Chuck Blazer admitted that he and fellow executives had accepted bribes linked to the choice. Around 70,000 stadium builders struck in July 2009 over pay, but were back within a week, and every venue was finished on time.
Source: 2010 FIFA World Cup
