Sept 29 (Reuters) - UEFA will distribute €31.5 million ($35.7 million) to clubs who released their players to compete in the 2024-25 season of the Nations League, European soccer's governing body said on Tuesday.
• The payment is the first under the UEFA Club Benefits Programme cycle, which is part of a memorandum of understanding between UEFA and European Football Clubs (EFC), which represents over 800 clubs across Europe.
• "The payments form part of the €104 million allocated to clubs releasing players for the 2024-25 and 2026-27 UEFA Nations League and the qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2028," UEFA said in a statement.
• "The programme benefits 611 clubs across all UEFA's member associations, including several amateur clubs. RB Leipzig of Germany will receive the highest total compensation in this payment, with approximately €353,000 for releasing 16 of its players," it added.
• Portugal defeated Spain on penalties in the 2025 final. The 2026-27 edition of the tournamentbegan last week.
($1 = 0.8823 euros)
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
