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Murdoch Pays For Military To Watch World Cup

June 16th, 2006 | By: Daryl | 10 Comments »

Whatever else you may think of him, Rupert Murdoch did at least one good work this week.

Some US military personnel stationed overseas had been unable to see any World Cup games, after FIFA refused to allow the American Forces Network (AFN) to broadcast games for free. Murdoch stepped in, brokered a deal and footed the bill.

Now the AFN will be able to show the remaining two USA Group E games, both semi-finals and the final.

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Comments

By dietmar | June 16th, 2006 at 7:39 pm

ya wouldnt it be nice if an iraqi and an american could set down theyre pistols and really find something they could enjoy together..just for a little while
diet

Posted from United States

By Gaetano | June 16th, 2006 at 8:05 pm

Now if Murdoch would only find a way to bring the World Cup and the UEFA Champions League to Fox Soccer Channel. I am so sick of ESPN’s half-assed incompetent coverage.

Posted from United States

By jurgen | June 16th, 2006 at 8:09 pm

Okay, screw you, FIFA. Squeezing every last penny out of the beautiful game. I can’t even stream commentary or watch highlights from the matches online without paying some exporbitant fee, and they refuse to let AFN show the games for free. Just… dispicable. I’m no war supporter, but the least FIFA could have done is offer up a few games to the troops. Looks like football’s going the way of big, bloated, American spectacle cash cow. They might as well call this the FIFA Superbowl and get it over with. Will Michael Jackson be singing during the interval at the Final this year?

Posted from United States

By Martin | June 16th, 2006 at 8:33 pm

I hear you Gaetano

Posted from United States

By Kevin | June 16th, 2006 at 9:06 pm

Right on jurgen

Posted from United States

By Dean | June 16th, 2006 at 9:25 pm

Lucky for them they missed the opener!

By ETucker | June 16th, 2006 at 11:07 pm

Good call Jurgen.

Sepp Blatter is a whore.

Posted from Dominican Republic

By Daniel Mendoza | June 17th, 2006 at 12:32 am

I agree with Gaetano. Anything would be better than ESPN’s half-hearted announcers.

Posted from United States

By mila | June 17th, 2006 at 1:34 am

that is why I watch the spanish tv(Mexican) Univison. they are so alive I love the way they cover the game

Posted from United States

By Dave Hamilton | June 17th, 2006 at 12:05 pm

Actually only one of AFN’s channels will broadcast the games, so it isn’t like everyone everywhere will get to see them, but pretty much. I recall Iran-USA in ‘98 and think the athletes respect each other. Surely they are burdened as well by expectations derived from politics, but it is nice to see “warfare” on a pitch rather than in an alley, in a jungle or on a real battlefield.

Dave hamildav@yahoo.com

Posted from Germany