World Cup TV rights: FIFA "disappointed" by the EU Court of Justice's decision

"FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) note, with great disappointment, the decision of the European Court of Justice," the footballing authority indicated on the 18/07/2013.

The EU (European Union) Court of Justice rejected appeals by FIFA and UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) and confirmed that the EU states have the right to prohibit broadcasts of the World Cup and European Championship on pay-TV channels and the right to require that they are transmitted on free channels.

"In regard to free-to-air television coverage of the World Cup, FIFA has a strict policy to make at least 22 matches available on that basis. This includes all home team matches, the opening match, semi-finals and the final," FIFA said.

"Furthermore, the 2010 and 2014 World Cup coverage exceeded and will vastly exceed this allocation in Europe. In many cases in 2010, all 64 World Cup matches were made available via free-to-air television in Europe," FIFA added.

FIFA's response to the decisions of the EU General Court (17/02/2011) and the EU Court of Justice  (18/07/2013)

• "FIFA’s…