Egypt has announced the decision to broadcast 22 World Cup matches in Russia, including the national team, on Egyptian television.
The national news agency said in a statement that the broadcast of the matches came out of concern for the right of the Egyptian people to watch their national team during the World Cup in Russia, adding that Hussein Zein, the head of Egypt’s National Media Authority, addressed FIFA on June 6 on the rights to broadcast 28 games of the World Cup, including the Egyptian team’s matches for a fixed amount and that FIFA would reply within two days.
He added that there was no response from FIFA yet on the request, so he was addressed by the consumer protection body who explained the matter to him and a decision was made during its session held on June 10 and that in accordance with international laws and customs, that the Egyptian television has the legal basis that gives them the rights to broadcast World Cup matches.
The statement confirmed that it its national media is entitled to broadcast of 22 games, including the Egyptian team’s.
According to Egypt Today, The Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) issued a statement addressing FIFA saying that the latter made an infringement of the Egyptian right to broadcast 22 games of the upcoming World Cup in Russia terrestrial channels.
“The ECA has ordered interim measures against FIFA based on prima facie finding of infringements to articles 7 and 8 of the Egyptian competition law as it was revealed that those infringements would cause serious and irreparable damage to the freedom of competition and consumers, insofar they will prevent consumers from receiving the right to watch the 2018 World Cup Russia under competitive and fair conditions,” the statement read.
