The Serbian government has decided to transfer funds from the budget reserve to the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) and the Basketball Federation of Serbia (KSS) to provide “financial support necessary for regular operations.” According to the Official Gazette, the transfers will be managed through the Government General Secretariat, reports Nova ekonomija.
The FSS will receive 236 million dinars (approximately €2 million), while the KSS will receive 118 million dinars (just over €1 million).
Transfers from the budget reserve to sports federations are not uncommon. However, the State Audit Institution (DRI) has found that government funding for sports federations in Serbia is often inefficient and lacks transparency. Funds are frequently allocated without strategic objectives, sometimes bypassing proper procedures, and with inadequate oversight and reporting on their use.
Between 2023 and 2024, sports federations were granted 6.3 billion dinars outside the procedures prescribed by the Law on Sports. The issue is further complicated by the fact that these funds are allocated by government decisions on the use of the current budget reserve rather than through the Ministry of Sports.
