Owen injury once again highlights insurance issue

By George Burns Jun 22, 2006, 13:44 GMT

Michael Owen from England lies on the pitch during the group B match of 2006 FIFA World Cup between Sweden and England in Cologne on Tuesday, 20 June, 2006. EPA/ACHIM SCHEIDEMANN

Baden-Baden - The serious injury Newcastle United striker Michael Owen sustained while playing at the World Cup with England has once again put the spotlight on insurance for players on duty with their national teams.

Owen will be out for up to six months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in England's 2-2 draw with Sweden on Tuesday.

While the English Football Association (FA) had taken out insurance on England players on duty in Germany it has emerged that the policy covered only half of Owen's 103,000-pound (190,000-dollar) a week salary. The total cost of the striker's wage bill is expected to reach 2.6 million pounds with the FA paying half.

Fortunately for Newcastle, the Premiership club took out extra insurance cover to meet the cost of the 26-year-old's wages in the event that he was injured in Germany.

The FA is one of only a few national federations to insure its players while on international duty, with Germany the only other country at this World Cup to have a similar policy in place.

Under FIFA rules, it is up to the club to look after insurance for their players but football's ruling body has put aside five per cent of the total prize money for players injured while on international duty, which amounts to around 15 million Swiss francs (12 million dollars).

'We chose this solution because it's more reasonable,' said FIFA finance director Markus Klatten.

Clubs can only claim from FIFA if a player's injury means he is out of action for 20 days or longer and in Owen's case, it would probably have to pay out for the maximum 180 days.

The daily rate has been set at 12,200 francs, adding up to a total of 2.196 million francs if Newcastle look for compensation from the FIFA pool.

'So far, there has been no application for compensation,' said Klatten, although Newcastle have until Sunday to do so.

AS Monaco have reportedly put in a request for compensation for new signing Jan Koller, who injured himself in the Czech Republic's opening game against the United States.

Spanish second division side Ciudad Murcia can also claim for Togo defender Ludovic Assemoassa, who sustained knee ligament damage against South Korea.

But Liverpool can't seek compensation for French international Djibril Cisse who broke his leg two days before the start of the World Cup.

'The insurance policy is only valid from the first day of the World Cup until the team returns home,' explained Klatten.

The ongoing problems with insurance for players on international duty has led the G14 group, which represents Europe's top clubs, to demand a general scheme for all internationals.

However, many of the 207 FIFA member countries would be unable to afford the premiums so the World Cup fund is seen as a possible start towards a long-term solution.

'The principle of solidarity has to be involved,' said Klatten. 'But there isn't a concrete concept yet.'