FIFA Urged to Avoid Women’s World Cup Blackout
- Big 5 European markets facing threat of broadcast blackout
- Deal is needed for good of women’s game, say governments
The Women’s World Cup is due to take place at the end of July in Australia and New Zealand.
Photographer: Reinaldo Coddou H./Getty ImagesGovernments in major European countries are putting pressure on FIFA and public broadcasters to resolve a dispute over broadcasting rights for the Women’s World Cup that threatens a blackout in football’s biggest markets.
The event is due to take place at the end of July in Australia and New Zealand, but football’s governing body and public broadcasters from the “Big Five” European nations taking place in the World Cup — Italy, Germany, France, the UK and Spain — haven’t yet reached a deal on the value of the TV rights. FIFA rejected their bids last year for being too low, and last month threatened not to televise the tournament at all in those countries.