Tokuaki Suzuki, AFC Professional League Project Ad Hoc Committee Deputy Chairman, said on Tuesday the money on offer will provide clubs with extra motivation to meet the requirements to compete in the new event.

The total budget for the 2009 AFC Champions League is US$20 million, dwarfing the US$4 million available for this year’s event.

Of that, 70 per cent is dedicated to prize money and incentives, with the eventual winners taking home the winners’ prize of US$1.5 million plus bonuses from earlier rounds.

Currently, the AFC Champions League winners earn US$600,000.

“The new budget means there is much, much more revenue for clubs participating in the tournament,” Suzuki said during his presentation at Tuesday’s AFC General Managers Seminar at PJ Hilton.

“This will give clubs the incentive to be more professional so they meet the requirements to take part in the competition.”

There will be cash rewards at each stage of the competition, with a victory in the group stages worth $40,000.

“This means that even if a team cannot qualify for the round of 16, they still have an incentive to do well in the group matches,” said Suzuki.

The following is a breakdown of prize money permutations for next year’s competition, which involves 32 teams competing in group stages, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals (all home and away) and final (one match at a neutral venue).

Group stages

Win: US$40,000
Draw: US$20,000
Lose: US$0

Travel subsidy for away matches: US$30,000 x 3 for each team

Round of 16: US$50,000
Travel subsidy: US$40,000

Quarter-finals: US$80,000
Travel subsidy: US$50,000

Semi-finals: US$120,000
Travel subsidy: US$60,000

Runners-up: US$750,000
Travel subsidy: US$60,000

Champions: US$1.5 million
Travel subsidy: US$60,000

*The above figures are subject to approval by the AFC Executive Committee, which meets on 26 November.