FIFA raises 2018 World Cup prize money by 12%

Football's apex body also closed the vexed issue around Israel and Palestine without taking any action.

Addressing the media after a Council meeting held here on the sidelines of U-17 World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced that the powerful body has approved an increase in the prize money for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia to $400 million. It is a 12 percent increase from the $358 million for the 2014 edition. Infantino said that the Council also decided to close the long-standing Israel-Palestine issue as football cannot solve political issues and his body will need to remain neutral in such matters.

"We have taken a decision on the report of FIFA Monitoring Committee (of Tokyo Sexwale) on Israel-Palestine issue. The Council has taken note of all relevant documents including the United Security Council resolution.

"We have decided that FIFA cannot take positions on such documents. Due to complexities of the issue and great sensitivity due to certain de facto circumstances, we felt a non governmental organisation like FIFA cannot make changes unilaterally."

He spoke on the eve of the final between England and Spain. "We have limitations and FIFA will have to be neutral in political matters. This territories are a concern of competent international public law authorities and any interference by FIFA in the status quo in this territories in terms of football matter will further aggravate the football situation not only in these territories but in the whole area.

"So, the FIFA Council has refrained from imposing any sanctions and declared the issue as closed until the legal and de facto framework has changed," he added. The FIFA Council also ratified the

decision of 6 September 2017 to approve the enhanced bidding regulations for the 2026 World Cup.