TV deal for 2026, 2030 World Cups advantageous for FIFA

— The TV broadcasting rights deal agreed for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, which is under investigation by Swiss prosecutors, was “advantageous for FIFA,” a beIN spokesman claimed Saturday.

“The financial conditions were the most advantageous for FIFA,” the spokesman told AFP, after it was announced Thursday that beIN Media chief and PSG chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi was under investigation over the sale of the rights.

Although no official figure for the broadcasting contract has been officially announced — or even the deal itself — the cost is thought to be considerably more expensive than previous agreements.

The contract covers broadcasting rights for the MENA (Middle East, North Africa) region for the tourna- ments. Khelaifi was placed under investigation along with disgraced former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man at FIFA until both were drummed out of world football’s governing body.

The beIN spokesman said the deal was signed off by FIFA’s executive committee, the governing body’s main decision-making body at the time.

Despite apparently approving the deal however, FIFA has also stated that it is investigating Khelaifi over the media rights issue.

The beIN spokesman denied any wrongdoing on the part of the Qatar-based broadcaster.

“The allegation of corruption is totally unfounded because we didn’t have to compete for the MENA rights for 2026/2030,” he said. “There was no competition.”