Brazil 2014: German Ministry of the Environment authorises public broadcasts after midnight

The German Ministry of the Environment presented a draft ordinance authorising the public broadcast of the 2014 World Cup (Brazil, 12/06 to 13/07/2014) matches on giant screens after midnight, said the German press on 23/02/2014.

This ordinance was sought by the governments of the German Länder (states), who feared that the late hours of matches, and therefore their broadcast in public areas, will generate conflicts with local residents. During the group stage of the 2014 World Cup, ten matches will kick off at midnight Central European Time (CET), one match will even begin at three in the morning (Ivory Coast-Japan Group C on the night of 14 to 15/06/2014). During the knockout stages, nine matches are scheduled at 10pm CET.

In Germany, the federal protection law against public nuisance prohibits public demonstrations in residential areas generating more than 40 decibels (dB) after 10pm. With the "public viewing" ordinance of the Ministry of the Environment, this limit will be temporarily increased to 65 dB.

• "A World Cup is an event that easily lends itself to public broadcasts…