While FIFA is considering turning the '22 World Cup "into a late autumn or winter event that would start in January or November," that "is not what Fox and Telemundo bought" when they agreed to pay a combined $1B for the rights to carry the event in '18 and '22, according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. World Cups "usually start in June and end in July, a big summer platform with fewer major sports competing with the tournament than earlier or later in the year." If FIFA moved the World Cup to the fourth quarter of the year, it "would compete for advertiser dollars with the World Series, the NFL, college football and college basketball." If it were staged from January to February, it "would vie for advertisers with the Super Bowl, postseason college football and, in 2022, the Winter Olympics." Still, a World Cup move from June "is not all negative for Fox, in part because more people are watching television in the winter." The nine-hour time difference between Qatar and the Eastern time zone means that in '22, Fox and FS1 "would not have to pre-empt much of their existing sports programming to schedule the World Cup." Sandomir asks if Fox, "especially, and Telemundo view the rescheduling of the World Cup as onerous and seek financial relief -- or even a release from their deals -- would FIFA accommodate them?" IMG Media Exec VP Barry Frank, who has seen the contract, said that there are "no written provisions that would compel FIFA to offer any refunds or a release." But Sandomir notes it "has, at least, begun to talk to television partners about the ramifications of the possible change" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/6).
IMPENDING PROBLEM? FIFA anti-racism advisor and former anti-apartheid activist Tokyo Sexwale this week warned that the '18 World Cup "could be boycotted by black players unless Russian President Vladimir Putin gets tougher on racism." He said that there is "growing concern among players over the increasing number of racist incidents in the Russian soccer league." In L.A., Kevin Baxter noted UEFA in recent years "has punished Russian teams for racist acts," but the Russian Football Union "has also taken little action against racism, earning international condemnation for failing to sanction FC Rostov Coach Igor Gamula for saying last week that he wouldn't sign a player from Cameroon because the club has 'enough dark-skinned players. We've got six of the things'" (LATIMES.com, 11/5).
