Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, has threatened to cease broadcasting rights for the Women’s World Cup in five European nations unless TV networks raise their rights prices.
Infantino claimed that the players and “all women worldwide” had been “slapped in the face” by the “disappointing” proposals from the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France.
Fifa has a “moral and legal obligation not to undersell” the event, he continued.
The World Cup which begins on the 20th of July Will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Infantino claimed that European broadcasters had bid between $1 million and $10 million (£800,000 and £8 million) for the rights, as opposed to between $100 million and $200 million for the men’s World Cup.
At a World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva, Infantino stated:
“Should the offers continue to be unfair, we will be forced not to broadcast the Fifa Women’s World Cup into the “big five” European countries.”
“I hereby appeal to all players, supporters, football authorities, presidents, prime ministers, legislators, and journalists worldwide to join us in supporting this plea for a fair financial reward for women’s football. Women deserve it, plain and simple”.
The men’s World Cup and other events were included in past tournament rights tenders, but Fifa has since split the bidding process.