FIFA agrees to lift World Cup photo restrictions

BERN, Switzerland, Mar 13 (Reuters) FIFA has abandoned plans to restrict the use of images from the World Cup finals on media internet sites following a meeting between president Sepp Blatter and Timothy Balding, CEO of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).

In a statement issued by FIFA today, Blatter said that photographic images taken by accredited media could be made readily available in the same manner as text reports.

''We understand that the publication of images and text must be treated with the same approach for the sake of maintaining a transparent information management policy that respects the freedom of the press,'' Blatter said.

''I am satisfied that we have been able to amend the earlier position taken and thus recognise WAN's justified requirements.'' FIFA had originally placed limits on the number of photos that websites could use -- as well as stipulating that no photos could be used until two hours after the end of matches.

WAN, representing its affiliated newspapers as well as a coalition of news agencies including Reuters, argued that such restrictions interfered with the media's freedom to report.

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