Women’s World Cup could be kept off TV over ‘slap in the face’ broadcast offers, Fifa boss claims

Downing Street has urged Fifa and broadcasters to avert a threatened TV blackout that could see the Women’s World Cup kept off of screens in the UK this summer.

Outspoken Fifa president Gianni Infantino has claimed that the low sums offered by European broadcasters for the rights to women’s football tournaments are a “slap in the face” compared to the men’s game and undercut efforts towards equal pay.

Speaking at a World Trade Organisation meeting in Geneva, Infantino suggested that Fifa could “refuse to sell” TV rights to the tournament, set to kick off in Australia and New Zealand on 20 July, unless broadcasters in the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany and France increase their offers.

He said: “The objective is to reach an equal pay situation, but broadcasters, especially public broadcasters funded by taxpayers’ money, should put the action behind their words.

“They rightfully criticise football organisations for not paying men and women equally. We need to generate these revenues, and they should help us, because otherwise we will simply not sell these rights at undervalued prices to them, and the European public will not be able to watch the Women’s World Cup, which would really be a pity.”

The prize fund for the Women’s World Cup has risen to £120m for the tournament, treble the amount paid in 2019, amid a drive towards equal pay with the men’s game.

But Infantino claimed European broadcasters are only willing to pay between £800,000 and £8m for broadcast rights – a tiny fraction of the £80m to £160m offered for the men’s tournament.

“It is our moral and legal obligation not to undersell the Women’s World Cup,” he said. “This is a slap in the face of all the great Fifa Women’s World Cup players and indeed of all women worldwide.”

It is understood that there are positive discussions ongoing with potential UK broadcasters but no concrete deal has been agreed. There have been widespread reports that the BBC and ITV will share broadcasting rights for this summer’s tournament, but no announcement has been made.

England’s Lionesses are among the favourites in the tournament after emerging champions from the Women’s Euros last year – and will be seeking to improve on their fourth-place finish in 2019. Wales and Scotland failed to qualify for the tournament.

A Downing Street spokesperson was keen to see the Lionesses on TV.

He said: “I think the Prime Minister like everyone in the UK would want to see such an important event televised not least following the huge success of our Lionesses. I’m sure we’ll have more to say.”

Last year, the Government added the Women’s World Cup to the list of “crown jewels” sporting events that must be offered to free-to-air broadcasters, limiting potential bidders.

The Women’s Sport Trust said: “British broadcasters have been big supporters of women’s sport over the last few years, so this roadblock won’t be about not wanting to show the tournament. Going forward it’s important to have more open conversations about value.

“We hope that all parties involved will find a solution that gives the players, fans and sponsors the World Cup they deserve.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on sports rights negotiations.”