FIFA RELIEF FUND AND GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
BFA like any other FIFA member association receives USD 1000 000 for its annual operations. The money is disbursed in two instalments of USD 500 000 every January. The second disbursement comes every July of the reporting year. These funds are based on the 10 points agenda items set by FIFA to have been achieved. The same are audited according to that criteria.
FIFA has promised to assist their 211 Member associations from what has been termed a FIFA relief fund. Botswana Football Association as a member has been asked to submit its request on the COVID-19 relief. After consultation with its members, the BFA has duly complied and now awaits the response from the mother body.
As of 08 May 2020, the funds had not yet been received by the BFA. FIFA is still going through its governance approval processes. Once finalised Member Association will be notified of the amounts disbursed, to mitigate the negative effects of COVID 19. The assistance according to FIFA will be done on each country’s needs.
OPERATIONAL COSTS
In an effort to mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19 on Member Associations. The second disbursement afore mentioned has been moved from July to May 2020.
This was done to obviously help the Association to continue operating during this tough period and to avoid football structures from collapse.
Once the relief funds are available the BFA-NEC will advice on its usage and distribution. The framework and guidelines are being developed with input from BFA structures.
The Botswana Football Association has advanced all the BPL Teams an amount of P40,000 per team against what will be availed from their League grants.
The BFA structures and regions have also submitted their requests to BFA and will be assisted as soon as possible.
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
The government of Botswana through the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) communicated to its members association to assist them financially on the effects of COVID-19.
Government is yet to finalize the assistance. All this will be done in a transparent manner with independent auditors and government authorities overseeing the process.
