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UK sports minister Nigel Huddleston wants to add the women’s Fifa World Cup and Uefa European Championships to the list of ‘crown jewels’ protected events.
The Conservative MP has written to sports governing bodies and broadcasters to secure a renewed position on the addition of women’s sporting events to the listed events of national interest.
It would see the soccer tournaments made available to free-to-air broadcasters, ahead of the women’s Euros being held in England in July. The sports minister announced the move at a Parliamentary debate on women’s football on Wednesday.
“We remain absolutely committed to supporting women’s sport at every opportunity, including raising its visibility in the media, which can help improve accessibility and participation,” said Huddleston.
“As England prepares to host Euro 2022 this summer, the addition of the Women’s Euros and World Cup would be a fantastic long-term boost for the game.”
The move follows a record-breaking 28.1 million people across the UK tuning in to watch the BBC’s coverage of the women’s World Cup in 2019, including 11.7 million people watching England’s semi-final defeat to the United States.
Sports governing bodies and broadcasters will have three weeks to consider their position.
The major tournaments would join the Olympics, the Paralympic Games, the men’s World Cup and Euros, the FA Cup final, the Grand National and Wimbledon as well as others as protected events.
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