FIFA has threatened to not broadcast this summer’s Women’s World Cup in some European countries due to “disappointing” offers for television rights.
The month-long tournament is being held in Australia and New Zealand and starts on July 20.
However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is unhappy with the offers that have been received from Britain, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France to broadcast the tournament, describing them as a “slap in the face” of the players participating and “all women worldwide.”
Speaking at a World Trade Organisation meeting in Geneva, he said:.
Club versus country tensions have surfaced ahead of this summer’s Women’s World Cup after national teams were urged not to summon players for training camps until a FIFA-mandated release date.
The European Club Association (ECA) said in a statement that it was concerned about the “current widespread practice” by national federations to call up players early, in breach of mandatory rest periods.
FIFA rules require players in the 32 Women’s World Cup squads to report to national teams on July 10 10 days before the start of the month-long tournament in Australia.
England head coach Sarina Wiegman has promised to experiment “a little less” during her side’s upcoming fixtures against Brazil and Australia as preparations for the 2023 World Cup step up.
Wiegman gave minutes to younger members of her squad and tried players in different positions during February’s Arnold Clark Cup, but sees April’s fixtures against two top 10 sides as an opportunity to test England defensively.
England play Copa America champions Brazil in the first ever Women’s Finalissima at Wembley on April 6 before facing World Cup co-hosts Australia.
FIFA and the Football Association have been in talks to avoid a fallout over the ‘One Love’ captains armband and say that a solution will be found before the Women’s World Cup this summer.
During the men’s World Cup in Qatar last year, Harry Kane and the captains of nine other countries initially agreed to wear the rainbow-coloured armband, which was designed to promote diversity and inclusion.
But FIFA eventually banned nations from wearing them at the showpiece tournament and warned countries they could face sanctions that, according to the governing body’s rulebook,.