Two Ukrainian TV channels to show World Cup matches

09:56, 31.05.2018 1 min read

Inter Media Group said that it has been granted the rights to broadcast the FIFA World Cup in Russia; all matches will be aired exclusively by Inter and NTN starting June 14.

A total of 3.2 billion people watched 2014 World Cup matches hosted by Brazil, Inter Media Group said.

In February, Ukrainian National Public Television decided not to air the World Cup, and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Ihor Zhdanov urged Ukrainian fans not to travel to Russia to attend matches.

On February 1, the Ukrainian Football Federation confirmed that it will not grant accreditation to Ukrainian journalists to cover the World Cup finals in Russia, although several Ukrainian journalists were granted accreditation directly through FIFA. Further, the Ukrainian Football Federation declined to but its quota of tickets.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said in late January that Ukraine was in talks with football federations and fan organizations over the possible boycott of the World Cup in Russia.