Broadcaster to sue Fifa?
2002-06-21 14:39
Rome - Italian state broadcaster RAI - which spent millions of dollars to buy TV rights for the World Cup - is considering suing soccer's governing body Fifa, arguing that poor refereeing was to blame for Italy's earlier-than-expected exit from the tournament.
The company said it has asked its legal department to explore the possibility of legal action to obtain reimbursement for lost revenue.
Italy lost 2-1 to championship co-host South Korea earlier this week - a shocking defeat which many in Italy have blamed on bad refereeing.
The elimination was the "consequence of clear and unanimously acknowledged refereeing mistakes, so glaring that they might qualify as the result of gross negligence or fraud," RAI said in a statement on Thursday night.
RAI bought the rights to broadcast the World Cup from German media group Kirch in December. The Italian company agreed to pay the equivalent of $138 million to show all of this year's World Cup in Korea and Japan and 25 games of the next one in Germany in 2006.
RAI sent some 80 journalists, camera operators and other personnel to Asia. Its programming revolved around the games.
The Azzurri's matches drew millions of viewers, despite falling in the middle of working days. Tuesday's clash with South Korea was watched by some 23 million people in Italy.
RAI did not assess how much Italy's defeat cost it in lost advertising income.
Friday's edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, a leading sports daily, quoted a RAI lawyer, Rubens Esposito, as saying the company would probably seek reimbursement for about $68 million.
Esposito argued that since Fifa assigns the referees, it should be held responsible. He said RAI was considering presenting TV replays as evidence.
Povoking outrage were two moments in the match - playmaker Francesco Totti being sent off for diving and an offsides call on an overtime goal by midfielder Damiano Tommasi that would have given Italy the victory.
TV replays suggested Totti fell in the penalty area after making contact with an opponent and that Tommasi was onside when he received the pass from a teammate.
Fifa President Sepp Blatter has denied any conspiracy but conceded several dubious decisions had damaged the Italians.
Before Tuesday's match with South Korea, the Italians had had four goals disallowed in three games, mainly for questionable offside calls. - Sapa-AP
- SAPA