No insurance needed. FIFA pays for injuries

Expensive insurance policies for NHL hockey players are the main reason their participation in the Olympic Games is often uncertain. Football, however, has no such issues thanks to FIFA’s Club Protection Program. The importance of this initiative became evident after Irish defender Seamus Coleman suffered a double leg fracture in a match against Wales (0–0). He is expected to be sidelined for six to nine months. Yet, he will not lose his lucrative salary from English club Everton. His weekly wage of around 57,000 euros—amounting to more than a million euros for a six-month absence—will be covered by FIFA.

“The national association thus incurs no insurance costs for footballers—the health risks are covered by the FIFA Club Protection Program,” Slovak Football Association spokesman Juraj Čurný told Economic Daily.

The protection of players during national team duty was introduced under pressure from major clubs, based on an agreement between FIFA and the European Club Association. “They negotiated this possibility in 2012 to avoid paying the price for injuries their players suffered,” explained sports analyst and football agent  Jozef Tokos.

It's important to note that the compensation does not cover bonuses, match-win incentives, or goal-scoring rewards. Moreover, clubs are not penalized for injuries sustained by players while representing their national teams rather than their employers. “Serious injuries during international duty are rare. That’s why the case of Coleman—one of Everton’s key players this season—resonated so strongly. He could be out for up to nine months,” added Tokos.

According to information published on fifa.com, FIFA has allocated 70 million euros annually for such compensation. Payments are triggered when a player misses more than 28 days due to injury. Compensation can be provided for a maximum of 365 days, up to a total of 7.5 million euros—equivalent to over 20,000 euros per day.

During the five years the protection program has been active, there have been no long-term injuries to global stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, or Neymar. Coleman’s case ranks among the highest compensations in the program’s history. “It’s not just about the wages—Coleman was in the form of his life, and the club will miss him during the crucial final stretch of the season. Money helps cover his salary, but it doesn’t replace his performances on the pitch,” Tokos added.

Among Slovak players, the most serious injury during the five-year span of FIFA’s protection program was suffered by Hertha Berlin defender Peter Pekarík. The Žilina academy product injured his shoulder during a home match against Ukraine (0–0) in autumn 2015. The subsequent surgery kept him out of action for nearly three months.

“Whether Hertha claimed compensation for me, I don’t know, as clubs don’t discuss such matters with players,” said Pekarík, who played in the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2016. Under German labor law, he did not lose his base salary during the first 42 days of incapacity. “If it lasts longer, the player receives only sickness benefits, which aren’t high. There’s an option to take out supplementary insurance to top up the benefits, but it’s much more expensive,” added the Slovak national team defender.