France's disputed qualification rewarded with hefty cheques

France coach Raymond Domenech (pictured) is in line to receive 826,222 euros in prize money for his team's controversial qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals, while the players are also set to pocket a handsome sum.

AFP - Raymond Domenech was in line to receive 826,222 euros in bonuses as a result of France's successful World Cup qualifying campaign, according to a report to be published in Le Monde on Tuesday.
  
Figures from the French Football Federation (FFF) showed that the France coach should receive 198,000 euros for the 2008-09 season and 328,222 for the current 2009-10 season, with a further 300,000 euros in image rights for both campaigns.
  
A player who participated in all of the France international matches that took place during the same period stood to receive 563,111 euros.
  
"Every qualifying match gives rises to a guaranteed minimum of 10,000 euros for each player called up, no matter what the result is," said Le Monde.
  

"To this fixed amount is added an additional bonus, as an incentive to qualification, of between 100,000 and 240,000 euros depending on the number of appearances the player has made.
  
"Another format applies for friendly matches: the bonus is unique but depends on the FIFA ranking of the opponent and the result of the match (18,000 euros for a victory over a team ranked among the top 10 in the world, 9,000 euros for a draw).
  
"The coach benefits from a double share due to an existing arrangement in place since the 1998 World Cup."
  
The bi-weekly magazine France Football claimed on November 20 that Domenech would receive 862,000 - a figure the coach himself described as "completely astounding".
  
"If it really was that, I would be as happy as anything," he said.
  
"But it is way over the mark. I won't even try and contradict the information because it is their usual editorial line. It is a lie. Money is not my motivation."

Date created : 2009-12-07