FIFA president Gianni Infantino has threatened to block broadcasts of this summer’s Women’s World Cup in five of Europe’s biggest broadcast markets unless offers improve in the coming months.
Infantino described offers from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain as a “slap in the face of all women worldwide” having previously claimed that what he labelled the “big five” were offering between $1 million and $10 million for the rights to broadcast the tournament, which takes place in Australia and New Zealand. He added that broadcasters pay between $100 million and $200 million for the rights to the men’s World Cup.
Speaking at a World Trade Organization event in Geneva, Infantino said: “To be very clear, it is our moral and legal obligation not to undersell the Fifa Women’s World Cup. Therefore, should the offers continue not to be fair, we will be forced not to broadcast the Fifa Women’s World Cup into the ‘big five’ European countries.”
The World Cup kicks off on July 20 Eden Park, Auckland and all five of the nations Infantino singled out will be represented. The tournament’s scheduling means that most matches will kick off in the morning or early afternoon in Europe. In his speech, the FIFA…
