Around 580 clubs, representing all 53 UEFA national associations, will benefit from the distribution of payments from UEFA EURO 2012. This is a substantial increase of nearly 400 clubs compared to the 180 that received a share in 2008.

With the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding between the European Club Association (ECA) and UEFA in March 2012, the amount available for payment to the clubs has been set at €100m for UEFA EURO 2012.

Following a proposal of the ECA board, and after thorough discussion between UEFA and the ECA, the UEFA Executive Committee today approved the mechanism that will be applied to distribute payments to clubs from the revenue of UEFA EURO 2012.

This result has been made possible by the decision to reserve €40m for all clubs who released players for UEFA EURO 2012 qualification matches. These clubs will receive an equal share per player released for each qualification game.

The remaining €60m will be distributed to clubs who released one or more of their players for the UEFA EURO 2012 final tournament. The global amount will be broken down into a fixed amount per player per day, weighted in accordance with a club categorisation reflecting the different situations in European football. More details of the mechanism will be published at a later stage once the calculations are finalised.

UEFA President Michel Platini said of the agreement: “Thanks to an excellent cooperation between UEFA and the ECA, today’s decision will benefit the whole football family and help shape a good and solid future for football in Europe.”

The ECA chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, said: “The increase from €55m to €100m clearly recognises the significant contribution clubs make to the success of the tournament. The new distribution mechanism is the result of the great collaboration between ECA and UEFA. We are pleased with the overall outcome. It will not only benefit around 580 clubs, but football as a whole.”

It is to be noted that the amount will increase to €150 million in the next Euro 2016 competition.

Maltese clubs

Eight clubs have released their players for international duty in connection with the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

They are to be compensated as follows:

Valletta €230,000; Birkirkara €117,000, Hibernians €88,000, Marsaxlokk €67,000, Floriana and Hamrun S. €33,000 each, Sliema W. €16,700 and Qormi €8,300.