WORLD CUP: Brendan Menton, the FAI general secretary, last night welcomed FIFA's decision to increase the payouts to teams competing in next year's World Cup by over a half.
All 32 finalists taking part in next year's finals will benefit from a 51 per cent increase in FIFA payouts compared to the 1998 World Cup finals in France.
"This is reasonably good news," said Menton. "The original number pitched had been around 1 million Swiss francs (approximately £500,000) to go up to 1.3 million (£650,000) and to get it increased to 1.5 million (roughly £750,000) is a welcome enough bonus."
In effect, the decision means a team's progress in the tournament will see it earn 1.5 million Swiss francs for each first-round game and 1.6 million Swiss francs for each second round game. The quarter-finalists will receive 1.8 million, the semi-finalists two million Swiss francs, as will the third-fourth play-off teams. The winners and runners-up will get 2.25 and 2.5 million, respectively. For the World Cup winners, the total money to be gained is 12.4 million Swiss francs - a 70 per cent increase on France '98 .
This money comes on top of the one million Swiss francs the FAI have already been paid by FIFA for qualifying. That means the association is guaranteed a minimum of 5.5 million francs (roughly £2.75 million) for participating in the finals.
"The good thing about this is that it is money that you get for just going out there and playing your games," said Menton.
Meanwhile, the German Football Federation (DFB) yesterday announced their players will receive €92,000 (£71,760) each if they win the World Cup but if the former champions fail to move past the group phase they will return home with no bonuses.
They will receive €71,600 each if they reach the final, €61,400 if they get to the semi-finals, €35,800 for a place in the quarter-finals and €25,560 for the last 16.
PASSARELLA SACKING: Arrigo Sacchi is being lined up for a return to Parma as technical director following Daniel Passarella's sacking.
Passarella's assistant Geodone Carmignani has been appointed as interim boss after the departure of the former Argentina captain.
He will be given an opportunity to prove himself, but the Gialloblu are seeking a more experienced hand to assist the new man - with Sacchi an ideal candidate.
Former AC Milan boss Sacchi spent just 23 days at the Ennio Tardini in January and February last year, but resigned because he was suffering with stress.
It is believed that Parma covet AC Milan's Mauro Tassotti, but the Rossoneri are unwilling to part with the assistant coach.
Passarella, only appointed on November 6th to replace Renzo Ulivieri, was dismissed after five consecutive league defeats, which saw the club slide into the bottom two.
CELTIC STRAPPED: Celtic manager Martin O'Neill hinted strongly yesterday that chairman Brian Quinn is set to announce there is no new cash to aid the push for trophies.
And that news is certain to upset the Irishman after leading the club to the domestic clean sweep last season and into Europe this term.
Celtic are currently 13 points clear of Rangers in the Scottish Premier League and have real hopes of retaining all three trophies again.
"I think the chairman is coming out and saying something in the next couple of days that will clarify the position," he said.
"We will wait until then, but money obviously at the club is not in abundance."
BECKHAM'S IMAGE: David Beckham will not be the first player to have an image rights clause if he signs a new contract with Manchester United.
Beckham and his advisers want it written into any new agreement that United will pay him for the use of his image. This concept is not entirely new and a number of foreign players in the Premiership already receive payments from clubs for the use of their image.
Leading agent Jon Smith of First Artists said yesterday: "What the players are saying to clubs is that while the use of their image on the pitch for 90 minutes and around the club is acceptable, anything beyond that is their image rights."
