Huge sporting tournament at risk of TV BLACKOUT unless broadcasters stump up more cash

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has threatened Lionesses fans face a BLACKOUT of this summer’s Women’s World Cup.

But BBC and ITV are understood to remain confident they will agree a deal to ensure Sarina Wiegman’s side are on our screens when they play in Australia.

AFPGianni Infantino has warned there could be a UK blackout if broadcasters fail to agree a deal[/caption]

Infantino made his warning as it emerged that Fifa has still to agree broadcast deals with ANY of the Big Five countries – England, France, Spain, Germany or Italy.

That is despite the tournament kicking off Down Under in just 11 weeks’ time.

The Fifa President said: “To be very clear, it is our moral and legal obligation not to undersell the Fifa Women’s World Cup.

“Therefore, should the offers continue not to be fair, we will be forced not to broadcast the Fifa Women’s World Cup into the ‘big five’ European countries.

“Broadcasters, especially public broadcasters funded by taxpayers’ money, should put their action behind their words.

“They rightfully criticised football organisations for not paying equally women and men or not having the same prize money.

“We need to generate these revenues and they should help us because otherwise we will simply not sell these rights to them at these undervalued prices.

“Then the European public will not be able to watch the women’s World Cup which after the success of the last tournament and the Euros will be really a pity, a slap in the face for the women’s game.”

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England go into their opening game against Haiti in Brisbane on July 22 as European champions and the inaugural holders of the “finalissima” trophy after beating South American title-holders Brazil at Wembley.

But while the broadcast deal for the UK has yet to be confirmed, it is understood that negotiations for split coverage by the BBC and ITV are advanced and are expected to be of sufficient value to ensure there is no blackout of the tournament.

There is big interest in the World Cup and ticket sales broke the 500,000 mark in January.