When a football club spends a large amount of money to sign a new player, they do so with a clear plan in mind. They imagine the goals he will score, the difference he will make on the pitch, and how he will help the team win matches.
For Newcastle United, the signing of striker Yoane Wissa was supposed to be a key part of their strategy for the new season. He is a player with proven experience in the Premier League, known for his ability to find the back of the net.
The excitement and hope surrounding his arrival were quickly dampened, however, by a piece of unfortunate news.
While playing for his national team, the Democratic Republic of Congo, in an important World Cup qualifying match, Wissa suffered a knee injury.
The injury was serious enough that he had to be substituted during the game. This was a devastating blow for his country, as they lost the match, hurting their chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup.
But it was also a massive setback for Newcastle United. The player they had just invested heavily in was now facing a period on the sidelines, unable to make his debut or contribute to the team’s campaign.
For a club, this situation presents a difficult financial problem. They are paying a player’s full salary, but he is unavailable to play and help the team. It feels like money is being spent without getting anything in return.
Fortunately, there is a system in place to help clubs in exactly this situation. It is called the FIFA Club Protection Programme.
Think of it as an insurance policy that FIFA provides for clubs when their players get injured while representing their national teams.
Newcastle United have now officially applied to FIFA to receive compensation through this programme. The way it works is quite straightforward, but there is a waiting period.
The insurance does not cover the first 28 days of the player’s absence. This initial period is like an excess or a deductible on a normal insurance policy.
After those first 28 days have passed, FIFA begins to cover the cost of the player’s wages. The payments continue for each day the player is unable to play, right up until the day he is medically cleared to return to action.
There is, of course, a limit to how much money can be paid out each day. The maximum daily compensation is set at around €20,500, which is approximately £18,000.
When you do the math, this daily amount adds up to a weekly sum that can cover the wages of a player earning up to about £126,000 per week.
This threshold should be enough to cover most, if not all, of Yoane Wissa’s salary while he is recovering. This financial support is crucial for Newcastle, as it frees up resources that would otherwise be tied up paying an injured player.
The main goal for everyone involved is to see Yoane Wissa make a full and speedy recovery.
The compensation money is helpful, but what the team and the fans truly want is to see their new striker on the pitch, fit and ready to score goals.
The hope is that the period for which Newcastle needs to be compensated will be as short as possible. Every day that passes is another day the team is without a key player.
This system, however, provides a vital safety net. It ensures that a club’s plans are not completely derailed by an unfortunate injury that occurs far away from home while a player is serving his country.
For Newcastle, it is a small consolation in a disappointing situation, but it allows them to manage their finances responsibly as they await the return of their new number nine.
