Finland’s Minister of Sport, Mika Poutala, has strongly criticized a contract dispute between media company MTV and telecommunications provider Elisa, which threatens to block access to half of the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches for hundreds of thousands of Finnish viewers. Poutala described the situation as “untenable” and urged a swift resolution to ensure all Finns can exercise their right to view the games. The disagreement centers on broadcasting rights, leaving a significant portion of the tournament unavailable to subscribers. The Minister emphasized the importance of finding a solution to guarantee public access to the sporting event. Negotiations between the two companies have so far failed to yield an agreement. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions regarding media rights and distribution in the digital age. Poutala’s intervention signals the government’s concern over the potential disruption to a major sporting event for the Finnish public.