ZURICH: FIFA and Russia’s 2018 World Cup organisers have no intention of altering the kickoff time of the final in Moscow next year despite a clash with the Wimbledon men’s tennis final writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

A number of broadcasters, including the BBC, have complained about the scheduling showdown looming.

However a spokesman for the world football federation insisted: “The kick-off times for the FIFA World Cup were set in cooperation with a range of stakeholders and taking into account a number of aspects such as the global broadcast market and feasibility for the fans – both in terms of attending the matches and reaching a wide TV audience.

“Following those discussions it was decided on December 3, 2015 that the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final will take place at 18.00 (Moscow time). No changes in the match schedule are currently under consideration.”

Wimbledon’s men’s tennis final traditionally shortly after 2pm BST (4pm Moscow).

One curiosity about the timing of the football final is that the concluding match of the recent Confederations Cup – supposedly the warm-up event – took place in St Petersburg at 9pm Moscow time (7pm UK time).

Recent World Cup Final matches have been set for mid-evening kickoffs, local time.

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