FIFA $1.5m Operational Cost: We Stand By Our Story - BSN Sports

  FIFA $1.5m Operational Cost: We Stand By Our Story - BSN Sports By Niyi Busari BSN Sports maintains its stand on the payment of FIFA's $1.5m Operational Cost for 2019 and 2020 to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. NFF on Monday denied receiving the money after our publication on Sunday, 4th October, 2020. FIFA had on 24th April, 2020 in Circular 1715 sent to its member associations titled: Impact of Covid-19 on Members Association - Immediate Financial Relief. In paragraph 5 (2nd to the last paragraph) page 1, FIFA said that the payment of the two tranches (January and July) will be moved forward and paid before July. It reads; "Any remaining entitlement to operational cost as defined under Article 6 paragraph 3 (b) of the Forward 2.0 Regulations shall be released in full for 2019 and 2020. In particular, the release of second installment of operational cost for 2020 will be moved forward from the July payment date as specified in the Regulation." Also, as stated in the memo written by the NFF Secretary General, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed to the President, Amaju Pinnick, titled: "Request For Permission To Utilize The FIFA Grant To NFF" [caption id="attachment_35219" align="alignnone" width="230"] Memo signed by the NFF Secretary General, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed for permission to spend the FIFA Funds[/caption] The first paragraph reads; "This is to request for permission to utilize the money we RECEIVED from FIFA to service/pay for the following...." The total amount in the under listed Operational Costs in the letter is $1.45m while the last paragraph further confirmed the payment adding that the sum of five hundred thousand US Dollars ($500,000) will also be utilized in the same way when received. It reads; "When the $500,000 2020 Operational Cost held by FIFA is released, the same payment procedure in A above will apply and balance of $50,000 will be added to National Teams." It is clearly stated above that the NFF received $1.5m from FIFA as Operational Cost for 2020 with the balance of 500,000 US Dollars. While denying receipt of $1.5m from FIFA, NFF did not say the memo did emanate from the office of the Secretary General, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.