Bengaluru FC to pocket ₹6,70,00,000 if they win historic final tonight

11/05/2016

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An incredible ₹6,70,00,000($1 million) awaits Bengaluru FC should they manage to emerge victorious in their AFC Cup final against Air Force Club of Iraq. The Karnataka-based club made history by becoming the first Indian side to reach the final of a major Asian club competition.

Bengaluru FC created history last month by defeating defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim FC in the semi-final to enter the final of the tournament. Dempo(2008) and East Bengal (2013) were the most successful Indian clubs in Asia, thus far, having reached the semi finals before Bengaluru's momentous win at the Kanteerava.

The Indian I-league champions will look to go one better tonight at 9 PM when they take on Air Force Club of Iraq in the final of the Asian club event. Even if they end up on the losing side in the final, they will still earn over ₹3,40,00,000($500,000), in what will be the biggest paycheck day for an I-league club. The I-league offered its last year's winner, incidentally Bengaluru FC, a sum of 1 crore, which in itself was a 50% jump from the previous year after the ISL changed the monetary equation in Indian football.

In previous seasons of the AFC cup, the winner bagged just $350,000. The prize money for the runner-ups has also been doubled from last season where it was $250,000. The 2015 semi-finalists did not receive any monetary benefits, but this season, they will earn $40,000 for their troubles. The quarter-finalists and the round of 16 participants too will get a piece of the action as they will pocket $25,000 and $15,000 respectively.

The AFC Executive Committee came to a decision that the prize money should be increased for the winners in a meeting on Nov 27 in New Delhi.