Cost row threat to World Cup TV rights.

FOOTBALL Association supremo Adam Crozier has condemned the multi-million pound fee demanded by a German media company for the television rights to next year's World Cup finals as "obscene".

The pounds 171m price being sought by Prisma from the BBC and ITV is threatening to ensure, in a worst-case scenario, that many group games might not be seen on British screens next summer.

England's games in the wake of Saturday's qualification, as well as the semi-final and finals, should be safe, but a compromise deal still needs to be reached.

And while deadlock remains, Crozier has called on the Government to remain "strong" over the issue and on world governing body FIFA to bring pressure to bear on Prisma.

The media company, owned by German Leo Kirsch, paid pounds 748m to FIFA five years ago for the rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, to be sold on to TV companies in individual countries.

They have asked for the BBC and ITV to come up with pounds 171m for next year's tournament alone, with the two broadcasters responding with a reported offer of pounds 55m.

One possible way out of the stalemate would be for negotiations to take place for both tournaments at once, given that the 2006 event in Germany is far more lucrative as games will be played at prime-time for European TV.

Due to the time difference in Japan and South Korea, the games at next year's finals will take place, for British viewers, in the morning.