Around eleven weeks before the Women's World Cup, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino is demanding higher offers from the television stations.
He does not rule out a TV blackout.
Frankfurt/Main – On July 24, 2023 at 10:30 a.m., the DFB team will play their first group game at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
About two and a half months before the big event, it is still unclear whether German football fans will even be able to watch the national team's games on public television.
The problem: FIFA President Gianni Infantino is demanding more money from European television stations for the broadcasting rights.
Gianni Infantino | |
|---|---|
Born: | March 23, 1970 (age 53), Brig-Glis, Switzerland |
Actual position: | FIFA President (since 2016) |
Previous station: | UEFA General Secretary 2009-2016 |
Gianni Infantino angry about rights trading at Women's World Cup: Blackout possible
At "these low prices" the world association will "simply not sell the rights for the women's World Cup this summer, so that the Europeans cannot watch the World Cup," the FIFA boss etched in the direction of European television stations.
According to Infantino, the offers from the five major European countries, including Germany, are 20 to 100 times lower than for the rights at the men's World Cup.
At a panel discussion in Geneva, Infantino spoke plainly: "To put it bluntly: It is our moral and legal obligation not to undersell the Women's World Cup." The FIFA boss rated the offers for the rights as "very disappointing ' and 'simply unacceptable'.
In times of equality and equal pay in football, he made it clear that the offers were "a slap in the face to all the great players and all women worldwide".
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino wants higher bids for the rights at the Women's World Cup
© Nick Potts/imago
Public broadcaster ARD surprised: "market-driven offer"
In the poker for the rights at the upcoming World Cup in July and August, the ARD broadcaster cannot understand the strategy of the world association.
ARD sports coordinator Axel Balkausky said in the daily newspaper
FAZ
that ARD was of course very interested in broadcasting the World Cup this year.
Both the ARD and the ZDF have "placed an offer in line with the market" for FIFA.
FIFA boss Infantino can't come to terms with this offer at the moment.
The German broadcasters are not the only ones fighting for rights with the world association.
According to FIFA, the rights have not yet been awarded in the British, Italian and Spanish markets either.
Axel Balkausky can only take note of the current situation.
Nevertheless, he made it clear: "We can't wait too long." Above all, the large physical distance to the two hosts ensures that the station needs to prepare.
National coach Voss-Tecklenburg appeals to the parties to the dispute
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, national coach of the German national soccer team, was optimistic at an appointment on the campus of the German Soccer Association in Frankfurt/Main at the end of April.
"I know there will be an agreement.
I'm a very positive person," said the 55-year-old.
The national coach considers a TV blackout to be rather unlikely: “I appeal to common sense – there is no alternative to an agreement.”
Voss-Tecklenburg sensationally led the DFB team to second place at the European Championships in England last summer.
The TV ratings also reached a gigantic level: the final against England brought ARD an average audience rating of 17.9 million people - and thus the title of the most-watched sports program in 2022. Due to the unfavorable kick-off times of the German selection, the ratings will be significantly lower this year expected.
If an agreement is reached between FIFA and the public broadcasters at all.
(sid/likr)
Rubric list image: © Nick Potts/imago
