Soccer clubs worldwide paid $125 million in money owed from player transfers, $200M more in backlog

 Soccer clubs worldwide have been paid $125 million in money owed to m from transfers of ir former players, FIFA said Wednesday, with money routed via its finance house in Paris, and re's a backlog of anor almost $200 million.

A furr $31.7 million has been agreed but not sent yet.

payments are being allocated to more than 5,000 grassroots and professional clubs by FIFA Clearing House.

FIFA published an update on two years of work by clearing house, which started in November 2022 to bring more transparency to often murky multi-billion dollar transfer industry. It also tries to ensure smaller clubs get cash y are owed from future sales of players y nurtured.

When Moisés Caicedo me a British transfer record move from Brighton to Chelsea last year, his former clubs in Ecuor were entitled to share millions of dollars from 115 million pounds ($145 million) fee.

money routed by FIFA “was a dream,” president of CD Espoli, Lenín Bolaños, said in FIFA report, with plans to pay for a practice ground, medical clinic and a gym.

Some parts of FIFA transfer market rules in place since 2001 are under review after a European court ruling last month in a case brought by former France midfielder Lassana Diarra.

current FIFA system entitles players' former clubs who trained m between ages of 12 and 21 to share up to 5% of a future transfer fee.

However, clubs often were unaware a transfer h gone through or did not have expertise or resources to pursue a claim. Now online process is managed by FIFA finance house which notifies buying clubs of approved payments that must be me within 30 days.

wealthiest buying markets England and Saudi Arabia have paid most in so-called “training rewards” FIFA said —$50.1 million and $18.7 million, respectively, in past two years.

leing net recipients have been clubs in Nerlands ($8.7 million), France ($7.8 million) and Argentina ($7.1 million).

One reason for backlog is that clubs are not compliant with system, FIFA report said. It said at least 1,600 clubs in more than 100 countries are accredited.

“re are still important challenges ahe and areas for improvement,” FIFA chief legal officer Emilio García said in 52-page report.