The Croatian champions have a chance to overtake the Belgrade club on the UEFA ranking list, with a one-place climb worth €935,000. Additionally, Dinamo is launching a humanitarian campaign to equip schoolchildren.
Red Star's elimination from the Champions League qualifiers could bring Zagreb's Dinamo an unexpected financial windfall of nearly one million euros. Hapoel Be'er Sheva knocked out the Serbian champions on August 12, and the ripple effects of that result could be felt by other teams closely positioned to Red Star in the UEFA coefficient standings.
Dinamo is among those teams, and they now have a chance to make a significant leap. Red Star currently sits ahead of the Croatian champions in the UEFA coefficient based on the last five competitive seasons, but that could change if Dinamo secures a spot in the Champions League.
To achieve this, Dinamo must overcome Norwegian side Viking in the play-off round. If they do, the Croatian champions would overtake Red Star on UEFA's ranking list, and that shift would carry more than just sporting significance. Under UEFA's financial distribution model, each one-place climb in this part of the standings would bring Dinamo an additional €935,000.
This is part of the revenue distribution system known as the "Value Pillar," through which UEFA allocates a portion of funds to participants in European competitions based on their position and value. Therefore, Red Star's exit, combined with Dinamo successfully navigating their qualifiers, could indirectly net the Zagreb side nearly a million euros more.
The five-year result isn't the only criterion that can impact final earnings. A coefficient covering ten years is also taken into account, and a one-place improvement in that segment, according to available data, is worth an additional €346,000. Dinamo is therefore closely monitoring the results of clubs positioned just above them on the European ladder.
Red Star isn't the only club whose outcome could affect the Croatian champions' finances. Dinamo would also benefit from the elimination of Norway's Bodø/Glimt, whom they could also overtake on that list. However, Dinamo's calculations start with their own performance: the Croatian champions must eliminate Viking and secure a Champions League berth to create the conditions for extra earnings.
Alongside the sporting battle for the Champions League, Dinamo launched a humanitarian campaign on August 12 via their official Twitter profile to equip schoolchildren. "A pencil case, a pencil, a notebook, or a backpack - it's a trifle for us, but everything for someone else," reads the post, in which Dinamo's foundation Nema predaje and GNK Dinamo are once again joining the humanitarian initiative by Bruno Lerotić and Team nenormalni.
Last year, they collectively equipped over 1,800 students, and this year the campaign is being repeated. Donations of school bags, notebooks, pencil cases, writing supplies, and art supplies can be dropped off at Dinamo's fan zone on August 18 before the Dinamo - Viking match, then on August 22 before the Dinamo - Varaždin match, during Maksimir Days from August 19 to 23, and at the "Živim svoj san" tournament in Vukovina on August 23. Donations can also be mailed to Darija Drnić's address in Vukovina.
"Nema predaje - ni u školi!" (No giving up - not even at school!), Dinamo said, urging fans to join the campaign.
