PUTRAJAYA: There will be 41 FIFA World Cup matches that will be aired for free on RTM for football fans to enjoy.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said that out of the 64 matches, the national broadcaster will show 41 matches, out of which 27 will be live and 14 delayed.

“From the Cabinet meeting this morning, the Government has agreed to broadcast for free the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament on RTM.

“We know that this is where the world famous players will be in action.

“For me and the Ministry, this is an important international event so we think it is important that it should be broadcast by RTM as it is a government agency,” he said after his Ministry's post-Cabinet press conference on Wednesday (May 30).

Gobind said he had presented a working paper to the Cabinet and has allocated RM40mil as a ceiling cost.

“But the actual cost and so forth will be revealed tomorrow (Thursday) by the Finance Ministry.

“I expect it to be less as there will be negotiations and sponsors. We believe many will take part and so we hope by this way, it can reduce the overall cost,” he said.