MP voices fears over free-to-air football
The Government will be urged by an influential committee to re-think the policy of having all football World Cup matches free-to-air.
World Cup matches provide a big boost for Britain's pubs
That's the prediction of pro-pub MP John Grogan, who believes it will be used to "sweeten the pill" for world football chiefs as England lobbies to host the 2018 World Cup.
Grogan is concerned about the results of the current probe, chaired by former FA chief David Davies, into which sports are "listed" and therefore available free-to-air.
Grogan, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, told a Parliamentary debate that his view stems from talking to FA officials at the recent England v Ukraine match at Wembley.
"Department for Culture, Media and Sport dignitaries and others were there, and it was clear that they all wanted a substantial amount of the World cup to be de-listed to sugar the pill for Fifa and to try to get it to award us the World cup in 2018," said the Labour MP for Selby.
"I predict that, unless we have a very strong listed events committee, some time later this year David Davies will present a report to ministers that argues for the partial de-listing of the World Cup; the only matches that would be left on the list would be those involving the home nations and perhaps the semi-finals and final.
"If that recommendation does go to ministers, it will be a big test of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Is he really a man of the people? Is his heart with the real football fans of this country, as he tells us it is?
"Can we be confident that he will keep the World Cup on free-to-air TV, despite all the pressures that will be on him?
"I hope that the answers to those questions in those circumstances will be 'yes'. "However, as I say, there would be many pressures on him."
Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the committee panel had "not reached any conclusions about its recommendations" and it's "important not to predict the outcome".
The panel's report will be presented to Government in the "second half of 2009", Sutcliffe said.
Meanwhile, Fifa said in a statement: "We never asked the UK to remove the World Cup from the list of sports events that must be shown on free-to-air TV. The bid process has no relation whatsoever with the list of sports events to be shown on free-to-air TV."
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