Former ESPN president John Skipper <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ex-espn-president-john-skipper-to-testify-in-world-cup-rights-case-20230214-WST-419750.html">testified in a US District Court</a> on Tuesday regarding FOX’s acquisition of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments. Skipper revealed that ESPN, along with Univision, outbid FOX for the media rights. However, FIFA overlooked the bids.



Skipper claimed that the duo of ESPN and Univision submitted a joint bit of $900 million to broadcast the two tournaments. Under the agreement, each network would put up $450 million. FIFA, however, allowed FOX to win the bid with an offer of just $425 million.



<h2>John Skipper was ‘angry’ about losing the World Cup bid</h2>



“I was disappointed,” Skipper told the court as reported by <a href="https://fortune.com/2023/02/21/world-cup-corruption-case-john-skipper-espn-bid-higher-than-fox-univision/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fortune</a>. “In fact, I was angry.” The network exec assumed the highest bidder wins the broadcasting rights.



Skipper also stated that ESPN’s initial offer to broadcast the two World Cup competitions was $250 million. The sports network then quickly increased their second offer to $450 million. “We wanted to blow the bid away,” Skipper said in court.



Prosecutors in the case allege that two former FOX execs <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ex-espn-president-john-skipper-to-testify-in-world-cup-rights-case-20230214-WST-419750.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">issued millions of dollars in bribes and obtained inside information</a> to secure broadcasting rights. Officials charged Hernan Lopez and Carlos Martinez with money laundering and wire fraud. Lopez is the former chief executive of FOX’s international channels. Meanwhile, Martinez was previously president of FOX’s subsidiary Latin American operations.



<h5>Star witness corroborates Skipper’s comments</h5>



Skipper’s testimony essentially corroborates previous statements by government witness Alejandro Burzaco. The former CEO of Argentine sports network TyC claimed that he helped Lopez and Martinez bribe South American soccer officials. The move was to help FOX acquire U.S. television rights to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-libertadores-tv-schedule/">Copa Libertadores</a> and the two World Cup competitions. Both bribes worked and FOX secured broadcasting rights to the tournaments.



In turn, defense lawyers insist the prosecution is framing their clients. One defense attorney predictably asserted that Burzaco was in fact the mastermind behind the plans. Burzaco, who testified for 11 days in the trail, has already pleaded guilty to multiple charges including racketeering conspiracy.



FOX has denied any involvement in the alleged offenses and has claimed that they are cooperating with the government.



PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Former ESPN president John Skipper testified in court about a failed bid to broadcast both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.

John Skipper angry after FOX sabotaged bid to win World Cup

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Sometimes you watch a World Cup and you think ‘well, that was the greatest edition of that tournament ever.’&nbsp;
That is not always the case. Certain World Cups are boring. Or, at least, they do not live up to the billing despite having the greatest teams and players from across the globe. Regardless, the quadrennial tournament seems to always yield dramatic storylines and games as the tournament unfolds.
Yet, certain editions stick in our heads and hearts more than others. There are a number of reasons why that may be.
The 2018 World Cup is special to those in Russia because it was the country’s first time hosting the World Cup. Similarly, French soccer fans may call that the best World Cup because their country won it. Even young English fans, who saw the Three Lions reach the semifinals for the first time since Italia ’90, remember that tournament fondly.
Then again, imagine what fans of France, Argentina or West Germany felt during the 1998, 1978 and 1974 World Cup Finals, respectively. Each of those nations <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/10/how-many-countries-have-won-a-world-cup-on-home-turf/">hosted the World Cup that year</a>, and each won the trophy.
<h3>What is the greatest World Cup ever?</h3>
Fact remains, it is near impossible to put opinions about the World Cup aside. Albeit that is somewhat easier for a twenty-something American like myself. I have not seen the U.S. host a World Cup (but I will in <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2026">2026</a>), and the U.S. never made it past the quarterfinals in my life.
Therefore, the greatest World Cup I can remember is 2014. At that time, I was in high school. Watching James Rodriguez and Lionel Messi light up a <a href="https:\/\/www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jul/15/world-cup-2014-review-64-memories-matches-brazil-germany-argentina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South American World Cup</a> was a joy. It also helps that I could watch every game in the U.S. at a reasonable hour. That does not necessarily hold true for the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">5 a.m. kickoffs in Qatar scheduled</a> for November and December 2022.
What is the greatest World Cup you have ever watched? Was it your favorite nation lifting the golden trophy? Or, was there so much drama throughout the competition that one tournament sticks out in your memory bank?
Let us know in the comments below, some people will surely have the same response. After all, these competitions only happen every four years.
PHOTO: Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images

Even though there are only tournaments every four years, people have different beliefs on what the greatest World Cup ever is. What's yours?

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John Skipper angry after FOX sabotaged bid to win World Cup

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What is the greatest World Cup ever?