In the build-up to the World Cup, there were disputes between governing bodies and players in Jamaica, South Africa, Nigeria, Canada and England, all teams competing in the finals. In each case at the heart of the issue, asit so often is as the sport grows, was money.
Some stemmed from FIFA announcing they were to pay World Cup prize money direct to players. This would appear to have been aimed at those federations where prize money has a habit of ending up in the pockets of administrators rather than the players.
The sums were significant, especially for players who were effectively part-time and in developing economies where the dollar goes rather further than in Western cities. Every player competing in the group stage would receive $30,000 (£24,000) with the pay-out rising through the knockout stages to $270,000 (£213,000) for
