Chelsea receive nearly £500k in World Cup compensation from FIFA

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Updated: 11:06 EST, 6 January 2011

Barcelona topped a global league table of clubs receiving compensation from FIFA for letting their players go to the 2010 World Cup.

Barcelona received £557,000 from a FIFA pool of £25.3million spread among 400 clubs in 55 countries, according to FIFA figures.

Bayern Munich received £501,000 and Chelsea was third with £491,000.

Star man: Chelsea's Didier Drogba in action for the Ivory Coast against Portugal at the World Cup finals

'We are pleased that we can share the success of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the clubs by providing them a share of the benefits of our flagship event,' FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in a statement.

FIFA earned broadcasting and commercial revenues of around £2.2billion in its four-year financial cycle leading up to the tournament in South Africa.

The governing body’s profits are scheduled to be announced in March when its annual financial report is published.

English clubs were best rewarded in the scheme, sharing a combined £3.8m.

German clubs were next receiving £3.05m. World Cup winners Spain were fourth on the list as its clubs shared £2.4m.

Greats: Barcelona stars Xavi Hernandez, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta all played in the World Cup

Barcelona topped the table after sending 13 players to the World Cup, including seven with champions Spain.

Bayern Munich's contingent included seven with semifinalist Germany, plus Netherlands pair Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel who reached the final.

Chelsea sent 13 players from six different countries, though none reached the quarter-final stage.

Another English club, Liverpool, was fourth-best rewarded with £449,000 and Real Madrid were fifth.