FIFA’s plan means world soccer’s governing body will dip into its reserves to provide national federations with a number of grants and interest-free loans to cope with budget hits.

FIFA had already provided the immediate release of all funds from its ‘Forward’ projects and given the green light for such grants to be used for COVID-19 relief plans — with a minimum of 50% of released funds to be allocated to women’s football.

The third stage of the plans, unanimously backed by the FIFA Council yesterday, allows for a ‘universal solidarity grant’ of $1 million dollars to all national associations with an additional $500,000 specifically for women’s football.

“Both grants and loans can be directed by member associations to the wider football community in their respective territories, including clubs, players, leagues, or others that have been affected by COVID,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The council also gave the green light to a new pan-Arab tournament to be played in 2021 in Qatar as a ‘test event’ for the 2022 World Cup.