Brazil 2014: no matches on Turkish public TV during programmes dedicated to Ramadan

Turkish public television will not broadcast matches of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil (12/06 to 13/07/2014) that will take place at the same time as television programmes dedicated to breaking the fast of Ramadan, said the Deputy Prime Minister, Bulent Arinc, on 21/02/2014.

Ramadan is due to start on 28/06 and end on 28/07/2014. The Deputy Prime Minister said that TRT 1, the main public channel, will not air "some of the quarterfinals," that would normally be televised just after sunset (around 20:40 in Istanbul). Two of the four quarter-finals begin at 19:00 Turkish time (18:00pm Central European Time), on the 04 and 05/07/2014. But this is also the case for four knockout matches: 28, 29 and 30/06 and 01/07/2014.

Bülent Arınç added that discussions are taking place with other groups on the sale of television broadcasting rights of the 2014 World Cup, of which TRT is the exclusive owner (rights acquired for €9.5m).

• Turkey has not qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
• In Group D of UEFA qualification, Turkey was beaten by the Netherlands (qualified) and Romania (later…