Why Infantino isn’t greedy for once

class=”sc-3778e872-0 cgWkHT”>

“Huge anger at Fifa. The blackout of the Women’s World Cup is imminent,” headlined the “Bild” last week. A snide remark with a lot of froth at the mouth: “The greedy Infantino should be ashamed.” First reflex: the tabloid is right. Typical FIFA again. Typical Infantino again.

Second reflex, and now it becomes polemical: not Bild and the irritated German women’s football community are right, but Gianni Infantino. exclamation mark.

It is about four million euros

What is it about? So far, FIFA has been unable to agree with broadcasters ARD and ZDF on the TV rights for the Women’s World Cup, which starts in Australia and New Zealand in mid-July. FIFA is reportedly demanding ten million euros, but ARD / ZDF only wants to pay six. That is why our neighbors are now threatened with a World Cup blackout.

Placing the blame on Infantino’s golden shoes is false and riddled with double standards. Let’s turn off the distaste for Grande Gianni – even if it will be difficult for one or the other – and sort through the reason and the computer quite objectively.

The public broadcasters in Germany paid 214 million euros for the World Cup for men in Qatar in 2022. 13.9 million viewers watched the final on ARD. However, four million more watched the final of the European Women’s Championship 2022 on ZDF, namely 17.9. In other words, women had higher ratings than men by 2022.

Why was that? Because that is part of the new reality. Because women’s football is booming. Because he ensures full stadiums. Because it delivers dream TV ratings. Because he has gone mainstream.

Scandal, discrimination, cheek

Understandably, FIFA is therefore asking for more money and no longer selling the women’s TV rights in a package with the men’s tournaments. Because the time when women’s rights were thrown behind the TV stations is over, and rightly so.

And here we have finally arrived at the double standard. When men receive higher entry and success bonuses from FIFA than women (and yes, that is still the case), then everyone, including ARD and ZDF, shouts in unison: scandal, discrimination, cheek.

Should those same TV channels now pay 10 million – and still 21 times less than for the men’s World Cup, should Fifa again be accused of cheating and berating Infantino?

No! Anyone who achieves such dream quotas with women’s games can also earn millions with advertising and thus easily compensate for the increased expenditure. That means, and it can sometimes be that simple: women’s rights will become increasingly expensive in the coming years. ARD and ZDF, welcome to reality.

That’s why the photo should actually be titled: “Enormous anger at ARD and ZDF. The blackout of the Women’s World Cup is imminent.” And comments: “The greedy ARD and ZDF should be ashamed.”

Source : Blick