FIFA to limit showing images of female fans during World Cup games
FIFA, in its quest to avoid accusations of sexism, says it wants fewer images of women inside World Cup stadiums shown on future broadcasts.
Federico Addiechi, FIFA’s Head of Sustainability and Diversity, said on Wednesday that he wants to crack down on cameras showing women sitting inside World Cup stadiums in the future.
Addiechi, appearing at a news conference at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow ahead of the semifinal clash between Croatia and England, said soccer’s world governing body will talk with national broadcasters and its own TV production teams about the new initiative.
FIFA has already taken up the matter with broadcasters “on a case-by-case basis when some cases arose and they were pretty evident,” he added.
Addiechi said FIFA’s stance is “a normal evolution” in the way it handles airing matches, and broadcasts in Russia have already improved from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He said the matter is not yet an official FIFA policy, but that the Swiss-based organization will review the matter further following Sunday’s final.
While many feared incidents of fan violence and homophobia could mar Russia 2018, Fare Network, an anti-discrimination group working with FIFA at this World Cup, said sexism had been by far the biggest problem.
Despite the #MeToo movement shedding a light on violence against women, sexism and workplace harassment over the past year, the group’s executive director, Piara Powar, said they’ve documented “more than 30 cases” over the past four weeks of Russian women who were harassed by male fans, primarily on the streets.
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Sexism against female reporters has also been an issue at this tournament.
There have been several cases of female reporters who were kissed and grabbed by male fans while on air.
Women have also marked some positive milestones at this tournament.
Former U.S. women’s star Aly Wagner, working for Fox, and veteran commentator Viviana Vila, who appeared on air for Spanish-language network Telemundo, made history by becoming the first ever women to do in-match commentary for World Cup games.
“We have all witnessed a very welcoming and friendly World Cup, with very hospitable hosts in every one of the host cities,” Addiechi said. “Some of the bad publicity this World Cup had beforehand, particularly in the area of discrimination, has been proven completely wrong. And where there have been issues, FIFA and the Local Organizing Committee have been able to intervene.”