FIFA threatens World Cup television blackout in Europe as broadcasters won't pay 'fair price'

FIFA has threatened European countries with a blackout for the Women’s World Cup as broadcast companies aren’t willing to pay a ‘fair price’ for rights.

Gianni Infantino has called for television broadcasters to improve their offers or face not having the tournament available on screens at all.

Back in October, the FIFA president criticised those for offering ‘100 times less’ to screen the Women’s World Cup compared to the men’s.

With less than three months until the tournament kicks off in Australia and New Zealand, he has called for the broadcasters to pay a ‘fair price’ for the media rights.

Imaginechina Limited / Alamy

He criticised the ‘big five’ European countries while speaking at the World Trade Organisation in Geneva where he stressed that the revenue would be going back into women’s football.

He said: “The offers from broadcasters, mainly in the ‘Big Five’ European countries, are still very disappointing.”

The five countries are believed to be Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, according to Fox Sports.

Infantino claims that the broadcasters were offering between $1 million and $10 million for rights, compared to the $100-200 million for the men’s tournament in Qatar.

Infantino said: “This is a slap in the face of all the great FIFA Women’s World Cup players and indeed of all women worldwide.

“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.”

With the tournament being played in Australia and New Zealand, games won’t be played in prime-time hours in Europe.

David Petranker / Alamy

However, Infantino maintained that that was no excuse.

He said: “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.”

The FIFA leader suggested that ‘public broadcasters, in particular, have a duty to promote and invest in women's sport’.

"Women deserve it! As simple as that!" he said.

The 2019 Women’s World Cup pulled in a total global audience of 1.12 billion viewers, according to ABC.

Topics: FIFA, Football World Cup, Womens World Cup, Womens Football, Gianni Infantino

Jayden Collins

Jayden Collins is a Journalist at SPORTbible. He has worked across multiple media platforms in areas such as sport, music, pop culture, entertainment and politics. He is part of the editorial team for LADbible Australia.