Support growing for winter World Cup in Qatar

By Andrew Warshaw

December 17 – Several of the most powerful officials in world football have now indicated that the 2022 World Cup could be switched to the winter months to avoid the searing summer heat in Qatar.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his number two Jerome Valcke have both given their backing to a winter Winter Cup just as UEFA boss Michel Platini did shortly after the recent controversial double ballot.

Temperatures in Qatar in June and July can reach 50 degrees and Blatter says this could prove too great a handicap.

“I definitely support playing in winter here [in the Middle East] when the climate is appropriate,” said Blatter who is attending the Club World Cup in neighbouring Abu Dhabi.

“I’m thinking about the footballers, not only the fans but the actors.”

Valcke, FIFA’s general secretary, also supports the tournament being rescheduled even though that would mean a thorough revamping of the European leagues for one season.

“Why not?” said Valcke.

“It means you open the World Cup to countries where they can never play it in June and July because it’s never the right period of time.”

“If you can do so, it would be a solution to open the organisation of the World Cup to a number of countries in this period which is winter in Europe but not winter in the rest of the world.

“It means you have to change completely when the leagues will play, mainly I would say in Europe.

“It’s less difficult in the rest of the world.”

No sooner had Qatar beaten Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States to host the World Cup in 2022 than FIFA Executive Committee member and former World Cup-winning captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer expressed his concerns about the health risk to players.

Beckenbauer initially appeared to be a lone voice among football’s hierarchy.

Not any more.

“Football in the Gulf in January, that would be easier than June, why not, it’s possible,” said Platini.

“Many things would have to be changed in the calendar.

“Would we have February off and re-start the season in March?”

Next it was the turn of former Asian Football Confederation general secretary Peter Velappan who argued that plans to cool stadiums and training grounds were “not a solution” and also advocated moving the tournament to January.

Now FIFA’s top brass have condoned a switch though considerable consultation will be need to take place with Europe’s clubs to bring it about.

Meanwhile, Blatter has apologised for saying gay fans should “refrain from sexual activity” if they go to the World Cup in Qatar.

Homosexuality is illegal in the Middle East state and Blatter’s original comments provoked outrage among gay rights groups who said he should apologise or resign.

But Blatter told a press conference: “It was not my intention and never will be my intention to go into any discrimination.

“If somebody feels hurt, then I regret [it] and present my apologies.”

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