Media covering football's Confederations Cup in Russia will be able to work freely at match venues, football world governing body FIFA said Tuesday.
A statement issued jointly by FIFA and Russia's organizing committee came after Germany's biggest-selling newspaper claimed Russia was attempting to censor foreign journalists covering the event.
Bild said it intended to boycott the June 17 to July 2 tournament at which world champions Germany are competing.
FIFA and the Russian organizers said media representatives accredited to the event "can work freely at the venues and in the surrounding areas without any restrictions."
The media accreditation will enable journalists to apply for a simplified visa, while under Russian law journalists covering events in other cities can apply for a standard media visa.
"Press freedom is a top priority for FIFA. Therefore, at all our events, we always strive to provide media representatives with the best possible conditions for free reporting," the statement said.
Bild said journalists covering the Confederations Cup - which comes a year ahead of the World Cup in Russia - had to agree to report only on the tournament and "on the territory of the host cities and cultural sites located nearby."
According to Bild, this means journalists will be unable to report on possible shortcomings or protests around the tournament.
FIFA had gone along with the restrictions and was "knuckling under" Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bild said. It would not send any reporters to Russia "as long as this censorship applies."
Bild quoted German football federation DFB president Reinhard Grindel as saying he would raise the issue at the FIFA Council meeting on May 9.
"It would be an important signal for the 2018 World Cup if the Russian organizing committee makes clear that there are no restrictions on press freedom," he was quoted as saying.
By Barry Whelan
