A total of €905M ($1.2B) was distributed to teams competing in the Champions League last season. Bayern Munich, which was crowned champions after a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in London in May, picked up a combined €55M ($73M) in payments from UEFA. This sum consisted of €36M ($48M) in participation, match and performance bonuses covering the group and knockout stages, including the final, as well as €19M ($25M) from the TV market pool. Dortmund earned a total of €54M ($71M), which comprised €32M ($42M) in participation, match and performance payments, plus €22M ($29M) from the TV market pool. All 32 participants were entitled to a minimum €8.6M ($11.4M) in accordance with the distribution system. Additionally, performance bonuses were paid in the group stage: teams received €1M ($1.3M) for every win and €500,000 ($661,000) for every draw. The clubs that advanced to the round of 16 were each assigned an additional €3.5M ($4.6M), the eight quarterfinalists an extra €3.9M ($5.2M), and the four semifinalists a bonus of €4.9M ($6.5M) (UEFA).
JUVENTUS TOPS: The AP reported Serie A Juventus topped the Champions League prize money table, collecting more than €65.3M ($86.4M) from UEFA despite losing in the quarterfinals to Bayern Munich. UEFA shared €905M in group-stage payments to 32 teams in the "first of a three-year cycle of commercial contracts." Juventus was helped to the top by a near-€45M ($60M) share of Italian broadcast rights. Serie A AC Milan, "beaten in the last-16 by Barcelona," collected €51.4M ($68M) as "only two Italian clubs reached the group stage and shared the TV payments." Real Madrid got €48.4M ($64M), Barcelona got €45.5M ($60.2M) and Paris St. Germain received €44.7M ($59.1M). ManU, "another last-16 loser," topped English clubs in the Champions League with €35.5M ($47M) (AP, 7/24).
