High yields for Champions League

UEFA says that the amounts which will be available for distribution from the marketing revenue from the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League are expected to come close to the total of just over CHF1bn (€680m) obtained last season.

Budgeted income
"Although exact amounts cannot be confirmed at this stage, we are pleased to report that the budgeted income for the coming season will be approximately the same as the revenue obtained in the 2001/02 season," European football's governing body has told its 52 European member associations.

Total revenue
Under the competition regulations, 75 per cent of the total revenue received from contracts concluded by UEFA, up to a maximum of CHF800m, will go to the 32 clubs taking part in the first group stage of Europe's premier club competition, while the remaining 25 per cent is earmarked for European football and remains with UEFA to cover organisational and administrative costs, as well as for solidarity payments to associations, clubs and leagues.

Starting basis
It is also stipulated that participating clubs will receive 82 per cent of any revenue received in excess of CHF800m, with the remaining 18 per cent allocated to UEFA for European football. UEFA advised the associations that as a starting basis, the gross amount available in the 2002/03 Champions League pool would be at least the same as the sum for 2001/02, which was CHF1,055bn.

Use within European football
Based on the 2001/02 figures, CHF768m, including starting, performance and match bonuses, as well as market pool payments, would go to the 32 clubs; CHF41m would go to the professional leagues of the participating associations; and CHF246m would go to UEFA for use within European football.

Solidarity amounts
Solidarity payments to European associations, leagues and clubs are expected to total around CHF125m. Between CHF10-18m will be distributed among the European football leagues not represented in the Champions League. The solidarity contributions are intended for investment in youth development programmes in countries across the continent.
 
Non-qualifiers
Each club taking part in the 2002/03 Champions League or UEFA Cup can expect to receive CHF80,000 per round if they do not qualify for the Champions League group match stages, or are eliminated in the second round or earlier of the UEFA Cup. Each domestic champion which fails to reach the Champions League group stages is also set to receive a CHF150,000 bonus.