By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
July 22 – Britain’s FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce (pictured) says he will support moving the 2022 Qatar World Cup to winter because it makes “common sense” for everyone involved, not least the players. Boyce is anxious to avoid getting into an argument with the English Premier League – which steadfastly opposes a winter tournament – but is backing FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s call for a switch.
Blatter is to ask his executive committee for formal backing to move the World Cup away from its traditional June and July slot because of the fearsome Gulf heat – and Boyce hopes the idea gets majority support.
“I honestly hope common sense will prevail,” the Northern Irishman told InsideWorldFootball. “The World Cup is the biggest sporting competition in the world. I was not part of the decision to choose Qatar or stage the tournament in June and July. Purely as one-off it should be held in winter. I would definitely support that. It makes common sense for all kinds of reasons, not least health-wise. Not just for the players but also the supporters.”
Although the Premier League is at the forefront of objections by many European leagues to any kind of switch because of the scheduling disruption it would cause, the international calendar has yet to be fixed beyond 2018.
Boyce is not prepared to get into a slanging match but says those opposed to a winter tournament should think again, with temperatures in Qatar likely to be in excess of 50 degrees centigrade in mid-summer. Even with Qatar’s revolutionary cooling techniques, Boyce believes conditions would still be far too hot.
“I hope people can bury any differences they might have for the good of football,” he said. “There are still some associations who are in doubt about moving to winter. The main message I want to put out is that everyone should sit down and realise how sensible it would be and try to make arrangements to make sure the World Cup is played in the right conditions.
“Obviously people need to be given enough time to re-organise their domestic competitions. It may cause disruption but this is 10 years away, not next year. Surely people can plan for that.”
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