Soccer: Togo players reach pay agreement

Togo's World Cup squad said today they had settled their long-simmering pay dispute with the national football association.

Earlier in the day, the players had refused to leave their base in Wangen until the row over pay and bonuses was settled.

As a result, they missed their scheduled morning flight to Dortmund where the team were due to face Switzerland in their second group G match on Monday.

"There was a some uncertainty this morning, but the money and the premiums for the team have now been agreed," midfielder Thomas Dossevi said after completing a re-arranged evening training session at the Dortmund's Westfalenstadion.

"We have not actually received the money yet but we were given an assurance by FIFA that it will be paid in the coming week. FIFA have guaranteed the payment."

Dossevi said the players had agreed to lower their initial demands of 155,000 euros ($319,700) each to play and 30,000 euros for each win, but would not reveal the new figures.

FIFA had earlier acknowledged that it intervened in the dispute after hearing that the Togo players were threatening to boycott tomorrow's game.

- REUTERS