GFF received $148M in grants last year from FIFA

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) received G$148,029,143 in grants last year from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), an almost 100% increase from 2009, according to the financial report of the organisation ending December 31, 2010.

The audit that was done by Jack A. Ally, Sons and Company showed that in 2009 the GFF received G$74,406,400 from FIFA under its Financial Assistance Programme (FAP).

Apart from the annual US$250,000 grant, which should be used to improve the administration and technical infrastructure of the national body, FIFA approved and remitted to the Federation a one-off bonus payment under the FAP in 2009.

The GFF also benefitted from financial aid to the tune of US$178,000 last year (US$122,000- 2009) for the establishment of the national league programme under FIFA’s Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF Programme.

It was also learnt from the report that the world governing body remitted funds to the GFF totaling G$12,964,011 to fund the costs of various seminars and workshops in Guyana.

Further FIFA provides financial aid to the GFF and other national bodies for projects which comply with these objectives: (a) establishing  and   developing  a modern,  efficient   and   functional   administrative or sports infrastructure; (b) facilitating the recruitment, training   and   remuneration   of technical   staff employed by the national association; (c) promoting youth football; (d) providing basic and further training of national association staff and members as well as others seconded to the associations for administrative and technical duties; (e) promoting technical and sports development; (f) supporting national associations in arranging and taking part in official football competitions.

In the report it was shown that of the US$250,000, US$22,500 (US$31,063-2009) went towards youth football, US$28,000 (US$33,500-2009) for men’s competition, US$78,500 (US$37,500-2009) for women’s football, US$7000 (US$9600) for technical development, US$3000 (US$5000-2009)) for referees, US$2000 (US$9000) for Futsal/Beach soccer, US$102,500 (US$105,000-2009) for planning and administration US$5000 (US$17,400-2009) for event management and miscellaneous costs accounted for US$1500 (US$1937-2009).

Sponsorship dollars

In terms of sponsorship dollars the GFF took a plunge last year where it reflected that they received no money from beverage giant Banks DIH as opposed to G$3,018,487 in 2009. U-Mobile Cellular Inc. and other sponsorship and donations also gave considerably smaller amounts with G$5,350,644 (G$8,996,250-2009) and G$290,000 (G$1,023,567) respectively.

Other aspects of the statement showed that the GFF has G$1,182,754 as of 2010 (G$3,095,575-2009)) in the bank (interest earning) while non-interest earning cash at the bank was G$652,903 (G$129,065-2009). The GFF had $93,671 ($57,408-2009) in hand at the end of 2010.