Sources: FIFA To Pay World Cup Bonuses To Member Associations Ahead Of Tournament

FIFA is "reportedly set to introduce a major policy change" by paying World Cup bonuses to member associations which qualify for the tournament "ahead of the competition rather than after," according to Colin Udoh of ESPN.com. Sources said that FIFA is looking to make the change as a way of "preventing any post-World Cup financial crises which often accompany many federations, especially in Africa." After bonus row issues involving Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup, FIFA, under former President Sepp Blatter, suggested they would "mandate member associations to show signed agreements with players" ahead the 2018 tournament in Russia. Now, it appears the new leadership of the world body is "going a step further to try to prevent crisis within the organisations by paying the bonuses ahead of kickoff." FIFA would "neither deny nor confirm the proposed change," and a spokesperson in an email wrote, "Please note, that the matter you mention in your query will be communicated in due time" (ESPN.com, 10/23).