FIFA President Gianni Infantino has warned that major European countries could face a blackout of this year’s Women’s World Cup on television unless broadcasters improve their offers for rights. Infantino criticized broadcasters in October last year for offering significantly less to screen the Women’s World Cup compared to the men’s tournament. With less than three months to go before the tournament begins in Australia and New Zealand, Infantino has called for a “fair price” for media rights.
According to a statement from FIFA, the football governing body is yet to sell rights for the tournament to some major markets. Infantino expressed his disappointment with the offers from broadcasters in the ‘Big Five’ European countries, which are believed to be Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. He accused them of offering between $1 million and $10 million to show the Women’s World Cup, compared to the $100-200 million they pay for the men’s tournament.
