Europe’s small clubs, including those of Malta, are to start reaping the benefits of increased revenue from UEFA’s Champions League funds.

On an initiative of the local clubs’ representative on the UEFA Club Forum, John Borg, former secretary of Birkirkara FC, an agreement has already been reached on a substantial increase for the participants from these small countries, as from next season.

The agreement still needs to be approved by UEFA, it seems, but it is evident that once the top clubs have also agreed with the changes, the parent body will, in all probability, find no objection.

As from next season, the participants in the Champions League (small clubs only) will receive more or less double the amount they had been receiving until last season.

The champions of these states will receive a global amount of 260,000 euros (Lm118,000) for playing in the first qualifying round. These are divided as follows: 160,000 euros for winning the nation’s championship and 100,000 for each qualifying round they take part in.

Participants in the UEFA Cup will also have an added bonus, though not as substantial as that of the Champions league. Here the two local teams will each net around Lm30,000 each (70,000 euros).

Participants in the UEFA Intertoto Cup have also had their share substantially increased by almost 100 per cent, to Lm22,500 (50,000 euros).

The need was long felt for such changes to be made considering that the revenue for UEFA had increased considerably during the past few years.

Apart from this share to the clubs, UEFA also hands out considerable payments to the national associations, with the MFA being one of the beneficiaries.