US has short memory about high temperatures, claims Bin Hammam

By Andrew Warshaw

November 22 – The growing animosity between Qatar and the United States over which of the two should host the 2022 World Cup intensified today within the inner sanctum of FIFA.

Mohamed Bin Hammam (pictured), Qatari head of Asian football and a FIFA Executive Committee member, hit back at suggestions that the heat in his country was too great a handicap by saying it would be no worse than than experienced when the US hosted in 1994.

Despite Qatar’s revolutionary cooling techniques, FIFA inspectors have warned of a potential risk to players and officials from the oppressive summer heat which can top 50 degrees.

And the United States’ FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer recently questioned Qatar’s ability to cool an entire country.

But Bin Hammam, writing on his personal blog, says memories are short.

“When my counterpart asked me about my response to the news that my country’s bid was once more criticised due to Qatar’s hot weather and the danger it may contribute toward players’ and officials’ health, I reminded him of two things:

“One: the technological developments and solutions that Qatar would apply to its stadiums in order to overcome the challenges of the heat.

“Two: whether or not he remembers the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where some of the matches were played in mid-day in temperatures as high as 50 degrees.”

“When he told me that he remembers, I asked him whether or not anyone had criticised the US for putting the players’ and officials’ health in danger.

“On the contrary, even the American fans forgot about the heat, and, yet, applied for another World Cup posting in less than 16 years from the time they last hosted.”

Bin Hammam’s comments will only serve to fuel the war of words between the two countries who are running neck and neck in the race to stage the 2022 tournament ahead of Australia – very much the popular choice among neutrals but rocked by the suspension of cast-iron supporter Reynald Temarii – South Korea and Japan.

Last week Qatar was cleared of vote-trading collusion with Spain/Portugal’s 2018 bid, 24 hours after Bin Hammam publicly denounced the decision to hold both World Cup ballots on the same day.

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