The former prime minister of Georgia and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili awarded the members of his country’s football team with ten million dollars after an unexpected victory over Portugal at the European Championship in Germany.
The Georgian team can double the money if it defeats Spain in the round of 16 on Sunday, June 30, AP reported.
Ivanishvili, who founded the ruling Georgian Dream party and is now its honorary president, initially offered to pay $10.7 million on the condition that Georgia reach the knockout stage.
That was achieved with Georgia’s 2-0 win over Portugal two days ago, one of the biggest shocks of any European Championship to date.
Ivanishvili confirmed that he will pay the bonus in a statement broadcast by “Imedi” television. He said that the team will get that much more money if Georgia beats Spain.
The statement said that Ivanishvili “congratulates the Georgian football team on its biggest victory”.
Georgia is participating in a major football tournament for the first time and was not expected to progress beyond the group stage in Germany.
