Gianni Infantino on Poor Broadcast Rights Offers for Women’s WC : FIFA President Gianni Infantio says the Top Five European countries could be blocked from watching this year’s FFIA Women’s World Cup from 20th July to 20th August in New Zealand and Austria after broadcasters from those counties offered very little money for broadcast rights.
“The offers from broadcasters, mainly in the ‘Big Five’ European countries, are still very disappointing,’ he said at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, stressing that the revenue will go back into women’s football to help grow the game.
Infantino accused broadcasters of offering between $1 million (around £800,000) and $10 million (£8 million) to show the Women’s World Cup, compared to the $100-200 million (£80-160 million) they pay for the men’s version.
It is understood Infantio was referring to the ‘big five’ as Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
‘This is a slap in the face of all the great FIFA Women’s World Cup players and indeed of all women worldwide,’ added Infantino.
‘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 (towards women and women’s football), we will be forced not to broadcast the FIFA Women’s World Cup into the ‘Big Five’ European countries.’
Because of the time difference, World Cup matches will not take place during prime-time hours in Europe, but Infantino said that was no excuse.
‘Maybe, because it is in Australia and New Zealand, it’s not played on prime time in Europe, but still, it is played at 9:00 am or 10:00 am, so it is quite a reasonable time,’ he said.
This comes after Infantino set a target of equal prize money for men and women at World Cups by 2027.
This year’s tournament will see the women get a 300 per cent increase in prize money.
There is a $150million (£125m) fund for the very first 32-team women’s tournament, a huge boost from the 24-team edition in 2019, and a budget ten times what it was in 2015.
Speaking after being re-elected by acclimation through until 2027 last month, the FIFA President insisted that around $60m (£50m) should be dedicated to paying players, but that he wants to close the gap to the men’s game completely in the next four years.
A total of $440m (£365m) was shared by the 32 men’s teams at last year’s World Cup in Qatar, highlighting the significant difference in pay that currently exists.
Female players worldwide have long been fighting for equal pay and equal respect with men’s national teams, including the defending champions the United States, as well as Canada, France and Spain.
This year’s Women’s World Cup starts on July 20 and ends a month later on August 20.
Meanwhile Nigeria , Zambia , South Africa and Morocco will be representing Africa at the tournament that kicks off in July this year.
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