KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has fast-tracked the process of financial aid for member associations who need help during the COVID-19 pandemic, says president Victor Montagliani.
The global spread of the virus has resulted in several sports, including football, being brought to a standstill, resulting in sporting associations being unable to host income-generating competitions.
Saying that he acknowledged some member associations had financial obligations and might be anxious in the circumstances, Montagliani told the Jamaica Observer that the continental body has eased the requirements of accessing the One CONCACAF Development Fund, a financial assistance programme set up to help member associations boost their development portfolios.
“For instance, before you could not use One CONCACAF for human resources, so what we have done is that during this period where there is no programming, we will allow it,” the vice-president of world football governing body FIFA told the newspaper.
“At the end of the day, football is about people and everybody will be wanting to keep their staff on as much as possible, so we are allowing that funding to target that.”
Additionally, Montagliani said, additional assistance is being crafted in conjunction with FIFA and other continental governing bodies.
“We have already started bilateral discussions with all our members and stakeholders trying to take an inventory, as we are also working with FIFA, whose ultimate intention will be to help out world football,” he said.
“We are working hand in glove with not only FIFA, but other confederations because I think it’s important it be done in a holistic and responsible way.”
However, he stressed, FIFA had to be responsible in the use of its funds.
“This can’t be like the Government bailing out the auto industry, because FIFA doesn’t have that kind of money. What’s important is for us to look to see what the real damage is, who is eligible, and how they are eligible, what’s the application process and all that kind of stuff,” Montagliani said.
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the Caribbean football calendar, resulting in the suspension of the FLOW Caribbean Club Championship scheduled for May, along with the 2021 Gold Cup qualifiers scheduled for June.
The CONCACAF Nations League Finals carded for June 4-7 in Texas has also been postponed.
