FIFA, the international governing body of football associations, will be providing money collected from commercial public viewing licence fees, to build 20 football centres in South Africa.

Anyone wishing to set up big screens for commercial public viewing of FIFA 2010 World Cup matches, even in Malta, needs prior clearance from FIFA. Bars, hotels and restaurants are exempt.

FIFA will donate all fees collected from Commercial Public Viewing Licences to the ‘20 Centres for 2010’, the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. Its aim is to achieve positive social change through football by building 20 Football for Hope Centres for public health, education and football across Africa.

The fee applicable to a Commercial Public Viewing Licence is calculated in accordance with the spectator capacity of the location where the event is staged. A USD 1,000 minimum fee is applied for spectator capacities up to 1,000.

When contacted, the acting CEO for PBS, Natalino Fenech, explained that the national television station bought transmission rights from the European Broadcasting Union for private consumption. Meanwhile, he argued that FIFA should also be charging for cinemas offering 3D match viewing.

Mr Fenech believed that since there are 40 free to air matches, the fees should not affect viewing in Malta.