AFP

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has threatened to “not broadcast” the Women’s World Cup in major European countries if bids from his broadcasters continue to fall too low, according to a statement from the body on Tuesday.

“To be perfectly clear, we consider our refusal to sell the Women’s World Cup”, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, a moral and legal obligation, the leader said on Monday. a round table of the world trade organization.

For months, the boss of world football has been battling “unacceptable” proposals from major European broadcasters for his most important women’s tournament, “20 to 100 times lower than the

received for the men’s World Cup,” he said on Monday.

Due to the time difference, negotiations have become particularly difficult in Europe and have not crystallized with the “big five countries” of football (Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy and France), while FIFA has already signed with American, Canadian or Brazilian broadcasters.

“Therefore, if broadcasters continue to be unfair to the Women’s World Cup and women, we will be forced not to broadcast the Women’s World Cup in these five major European countries,” threatened Gianni Infantino.

The leader recalled that the broadcasters paid “between 100 and 200 million dollars” for the Men’s World Cup, but that they are only ready to offer “1 to 10 million dollars for the Women’s World Cup”, while their audiences represent “about 50 to 60%” of the men’s tournament.

Regarding the time difference, he considered that it is true that the matches “will not be broadcast in prime time in Europe” but would take place “at 9 or 10 am, which is still very reasonable”.