Fifa stands firm on Owen pay-out

[kyan]

Fifa insists it has made a "final offer" of £1m compensation to Newcastle for Michael Owen's World Cup injury.

Newcastle claimed £6.2m towards Owen's salary costs after he ruptured cruciate knee ligaments 55 seconds into last summer's World Cup game against Sweden.

The Football Association is already paying Newcastle £50,000 a week to help cover his salary.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said it was a "last offer", adding: "If someone has responsiblility then it's the FA."

Blatter insisted the overall compensation should be shared between Fifa, the FA and Newcastle's own insurers.

Newcastle have lodged a claim for further compensation from the FA well as Fifa to cover the cost of signing £10m Obefemi Martins to replace Owen, who cost £17m from Real Madrid.

The Fifa president said: "Newcastle have come saying that they had have to replace him with another player and that's not fair.

"The transfer regulations say players put at the disposal of the national team should be insured by their club.

"The competition regulations of the World Cup say the national associations should make sure their players are correctly insured.

"We've also set up a special fund for injuries to players for all 32 participants with a total of £7m available for everybody.

"If you look who is asking for money, then something is wrong because it's from the richest league in the world."

An FA spokesman said: "The position remains unchanged. We've been in constructive discussions with Newcastle since the World Cup.

"We are sympathetic towards their position with reference to the injury and these discussions are ongoing."

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Newcastle United | Fifa stands firm on Owen pay-out

[Trim]

Interesting..

[Pennywise]

We claimed £6.2 but got £1m.

Well, better that nothing. I don't think we'll starve anyway.

However, N'caslte have got £50 000 a-week too.

[kyan]

Originally Posted by Pennywise

We claimed £6.2 but got £1m.

Well, better that nothing. I don't think we'll starve anyway.

However, N'caslte have got £50 000 a-week too.

Well, it makes me wonder how much his wages are! I don't think Newcastle are accepting this settlement and are still looking for more, could be very foolish but this injury could be seen to be very costly, with him I think Newcastle could make the UEFA Cup next season easily.