Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has called for a “quick agreement” on broadcast rights for the upcoming women’s World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand.
Ms Faeser also criticised football governing body FIFA for its warning there may be no broadcast games at all in Germany if networks didn’t improve their offers.
Ms Faeser, who is also responsible for sport, told the Bild newspaper on Thursday that “FIFA’s threatening gestures are not helping anyone,” and stressed that “millions of Germans want to cheer along with our team”.
German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF are yet to reach an agreement with FIFA, a situation which also concerns the other top five European markets of Britain, Italy, Spain and France.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino warned this week that World Cup games would not be broadcast there if networks didn’t improve their offers.
German Football Federation (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf, now also a member of the FIFA Council, warned that “a blackout must not come” because “it would be a setback in Germany and worldwide”.
On Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had already urged Germany’s public TV networks and FIFA to reach an agreement on broadcast rights.
During a launch event for the July 20-August 20 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, Ms Baerbock recalled that last year’s Euro final between England and Germany was the most-watched sports broadcast of 2022 in Germany.
Almost 18 million people tuned in and Ms Baerbock expressed hope that “we can watch on our networks to further fuel the passion of those who are interested” in the World Cup tournament.
ARD sports co-ordinator Axel Balkausky said last month that ARD and ZDF had submitted “an offer in line with market conditions”.
The majority of this year’s World Cup matches take place at morning and early afternoon times in Europe where top ratings are difficult to achieve.
At the same time, Infantino and FIFA want to generate more income for the women’s game.
-DPA
