As clubs around the world debate how they will cope with the economic costs that are approaching amid the standstill caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Conmebol decided to take a step forward and offered entities classified in the Libertadores Cup Y South American who have an income of advance money to deal with those problems.
“The clubs that are currently playing the group stage of the Libertadores or South American 2020 may request an exceptional advance of up to 60% of the participation rights", The entity that regulates South American football reported through a statement. The intention is that the different teams "They can meet their financial needs with greater guarantees".
The top figures would be $ 1,800,000 for those who are in the current edition of the Libertadores Cup (the total sum is $ 3,000,000 for the three home games) and $ 225,000 for the members of the Sudamericana (there are 375,000 for the presentation of the venue). At the same time, the federations of Argentina and Colombia, in charge of organizing the Copa América postponed to 2021, will advance also $ 1,000,000.
It should be noted that all the clubs that participate in the group stage of the Libertadores have already contested at least one meeting in local condition since the first two dates were played in the eight zones. In the South American, on the other hand, the 22 teams qualified for the second phase, but they still remained to know the ten who would arrive eliminated from the Libertadores.
“Situations like this require agile and exceptional responses, aimed both at preserving the health of the great family of South American soccer; as to reduce as far as possible the economic impact of interrupting competitions”Said Alejandro Domínguez, president of Conmebol, in a letter addressed to the presidents of the member associations.
Those who intend to use this financial option must make a request to the respective entity in each country and from there the order will be managed with Conmebol.
The measure is focused on alleviating a conflict that is already on the table of all the soccer clubs in the world. In Europe, Barcelona is negotiating a sharp salary reduction for a large part of its workforce and the four most powerful institutions in Germany will finance those with the lowest incomes to face the stage. "We are a privileged group, it is evident that we must accept a salary cut", noted German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, a thought that is in line with what was done by Marcelo Bielsa and the Leeds squad in England.