By Andrew Warshaw
September 7 – UEFA President Michel Platini has reiterated his call for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be played in winter to avoid the searing heat of the desert summer where temperatures can reach 50 degrees.
Platini (pictured top, left with Qatar Olympic Committee chairman Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani) is still hopeful that Qatar will accept calls to switch the World Cup from its traditional June-July slot but insists the tiny Gulf state, half the size of Wales, deserves its chance.
“I hope it will take place in winter and I’m still pushing for that,” said Platini.
“It would be far better for the fans.
“It couldn’t be January because that would clash with the Winter Olympics so that means November-December.”
FIFA corruption busters are once again investigating whether Qatar broke any bidding rules when securing their landslide victory but Platini says stripping them of hosting status would be unfair.
“I don’t think you can do that now and I don’t think it will happen,” he said.
Accused of being privately urged to vote for Qatar by the French government to help secure vital trade deals, Platini, whose son works for the Qatari owners of Paris Saint Germain, denied he had ever bowed to pressure.
“It’s nonsense,” he insisted.
“I went to a dinner once with the heads of Government of both countries but I was never asked anything about this.
“Besides, anyone who knows me knows I’d vote for who I want.
“And if there was ever a revote, I’d vote for Qatar again.
“I think it is time the region had a chance to stage the World Cup – but my preference would be for the whole Gulf area to share it.”
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