Fifa has agreed not to restrict the media from online publication of World Cup photographs during the soccer tournament in Germany later this year. The governing body of world soccer and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) said on Monday they have reached an accord to allow media photos to be used on the internet immediately.
Fifa had wanted to limit the number of online images, as well as keep them off the internet for two hours after the end of matches.
”We understand that the publication of images and text must be treated with the same approach for the sake of maintaining a transparent information-management policy that respects the freedom of the press,” Fifa president Sepp Blatter said in a statement. ”I am satisfied that we have been able to amend the earlier position taken and thus to recognise WAN’s justified requirements.”
WAN was representing 18 000 newspapers around the globe as well as a coalition of the world’s major news agencies, including the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The World Cup opens on June 9 and the final is set for July 9.
WAN had been negotiating with Fifa to drop the restrictions since last September. A delegation met with Blatter and other Fifa officials on January 9, with the two sides agreeing to set up a joint working party to find solutions.
”WAN and the world-press community warmly welcome this wise and enlightened decision by Mr Blatter, which will benefit tens of millions of readers of newspaper websites worldwide,” said Timothy Balding, CEO of WAN.
”In eliminating limits on the number of pictures that can be posted on internet sites and in permitting their free publication during the course of World Cup matches, Fifa are upholding the traditional values of the free press and preserving the full free flow of information to the media and their audiences.”
WAN had threatened to explore possible legal action after Fifa earlier refused to lift the embargo.
”We acknowledge that this has not been an easy decision for Fifa to take, which is all the more reason for us to be delighted that a common position has now been found,” Balding said. — Sapa-AP