Next summer, the French team will compete in its 17th World Cup final phase. The last of the Didier Deschamps era, who will be keen to win a third star before giving up his place as coach. A qualification for the next World Cup acquired on November 13, when the Blues dominated Ukraine (4-0) at the Parc des Princes. In the wake of this success, the atmosphere was festive in the French locker room. To the point where it left room for a particular request from the players. According to The Teamthe players requested the payment of a double bonus through their captain, Kylian Mbappé.
Present that evening, the president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, did not take long to accept this request. Usually, each international receives a bonus of around 21,000 euros per match for image rights linked to commercial operations with partners. With this exceptional decision, the sum therefore reached nearly 42,000 euros per player for this meeting. In total, the 23 players called up benefited from this double bonus, as did the technical staff led by Didier Deschamps.
A decision that questions internally
This extension therefore represents around 550,000 additional euros for the Federation, to which could also be added bonuses for extended management (stewards, managers, etc.), as requested by the players. An unusual initiative. Over a classic international season, with around ten matches, French internationals can already hope for around 210,000 euros in cumulative bonuses. This decision was not understood by everyone within the FFF, as reported The Team. Some people believe that qualifying for the World Cup has become a form of normality for the Blues, especially with an affordable group (Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan). The financial question is not unrelated either: the Federation recently posted a deficit of 8.7 million euros, following several aid granted to professional football or the organization of a France-Israel surrounded by a political context under tension.
Despite these criticisms, Philippe Diallo fully assumes this gesture towards the players. The manager recalls that the French team constitutes the main economic engine of the 3F, thanks to television rights, sponsors and the major partnership with the equipment manufacturer Nike (contract of 100 million euros per year). “ There is no controversy. I consider that the French team is the economic lifeblood of the Federation. After this qualification, it was the opportunity to recognize his contribution “, he explained. Diallo also specified that this exceptional bonus had been extended to all management, at the request of the players.
