While FIFA have fined West Ham £71,000 today there was actually more than one million pounds at stake through lost prize money, Live TV facility fees and a share of the gate money.
West Ham earned £90,000 prize money from the FA for winning the fourth round plus another £144,000 for having the match screened live on TV. The Hammers also thought to have received around £100,000 for their 42.5% of share of the Bristol City gate money. This £334,000 could well of been forfeited if we had been thrown out of the FA Cup.
The riches against West Bromwich Albion in the fifth round are even greater, we will win another £180,000 prize money if we triumph in the tie, we will receive £247,000 for having the match screened live on TV plus around £250,000 for our 42.5% of share of the Hawthorns gate money. A potential additional bonanza of £667,000.
Success in the quarter finals could net another £1m in prize money, TV and gate money while a semi final win could double that to another £2m. Get to Wembley final and win it and you can earn another £6m in prize money, TV and gate revenue for winning the FA Cup.
£71,000 sounds a small price to pay to retain £1m and have the potential to earn another £9m!
It’s not finished yet HUGH and I wouldn’t tell Bristol City about those sort of numbers,
Yes, you can see Bristol City going to law to get their snout into the trough.
What I’m not clear about is whether this is just a technicality that we’ve fallen foul of under FIFA jurisdiction – ie concerning a player not being available for the African Cup and then playing in a National Competition – but doesn’t this fall foul of the FA Cup rules – ie playing an ineligible player for example!
Could be expensive!
This is a poor and unhelpful article, worthy of the tabloid press.