Soccer:Fifa have had to give South African World Cup organisers an extra €78million to ensure training bases for the teams are up to scratch.
There had been concerns among some countries, including England, the bases would not be ready in time for their arrival before the tournament, which starts in a month’s time on June 11th.
England are now happy with theirs at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus at Rustenburg.
Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke confirmed the increase to the operational budget had been approved with the money coming from the world governing body.
Valcke said: “We know we had to add some money for the team base camps where some teams were unhappy about the level of the services or the level of the pitches.
“That’s a cost that we at Fifa took over to ensure that things were delivered on time.
“We have agreed the extra US$100 million (€78m) at the last executive committee where I explained there will be some additional cost for the World Cup to move (the budget) from $423m (€333m) to $523m (€412m).
“Nothing can be paid without our approval and it’s the first time ever that Fifa has worked this much with a local organising committee.”
Valcke said the extra cost would easily be covered by the $2.1billion (€1.65bn) Fifa will make from the tournament in television and sponsorship revenue.
He also said any surplus would be ploughed back into football.
“Yes, it’s a lot of money but just to be clear we are not sitting on profit, all the money is going back to football,” added Valcke.
“It’s also less than the Premier League and Uefa make from the Champions League.
“The World Cup is the most beautiful football event, played every four years with the best teams of the world.
“It’s a unique event, it’s the biggest sporting event organised every four years, and that’s why there is such interest.”