2014 World Cup: Black Stars players to benefit as FIFA extends salary insurance

Ghana players at next month’s World Cup are happy after FIFA has agreed to insure players selected in squads who are injured on national team duty before May 26.

The Black Stars will start their training on 20 May which sparked fears that players who suffer injuries before the FIFA approved date for pre-World Cup training will not be covered by the governing body’s insurance scheme.

The European Club Association says FIFA “understands the clubs’ concerns and (on Tuesday) announced to extend” the insurance program.

The Ghana squad, including several players from Italian and French clubs, is among those in World Cup training camps before the official call-up deadline.

This means Ghana players will be covered if they suffer injuries while training with the Black Stars from next week.

FIFA budgets tens of millions of dollars each year to cover club salaries of players injured while with national teams.

The case of Netherlands winger Arjen Robben, who was sidelined at Bayern Munich for several months by an injury sustained at the 2010 World Cup, was key to launching the program.