By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – Former English FA chairman David Bernstein has waded controversially into the Qatar World Cup debate by calling for a revote for the 2022 tournament in preference to any rescheduling. In recent weeks, debate has intensified over a possible switch to winter because of the fearsome mid-summer Gulf heat – an idea Bernstein has long opposed yet one that is supported by his successor, Greg Dyke.
The almighty fuss is expected to be formally discussed in early October by FIFA’s executive committee. Now, however, Bernstein has gone one step further, fanning the flames of the debate by suggesting the vote be staged again if the matter cannot be resolved and the tournament cannot be staged at its traditional time.
Qatar beat South Korea, Japan, Australia and favourites the United States to host 2022 and organisers say they are happy to stage the event at either time.
But Bernstein told BBC Radio: “It was a strange award in the first place, we all know that. Either it should be left where it is or there should be a rebidding process; [moving to winter] seems fundamentally wrong.”
Bernstein, whose relationship with FIFA was distinctly fraught before bridges were built towards the end of his tenure as FA boss, believes football’s world governing body privately wished the simultaneous ballot had never happened.
“It was a controversial thing to do and I believe that FIFA regret doing it now,” he said. “It’s a huge issue but my personal view is unchanged. The (Qatar) bid was a summer bid and accepted as a summer bid. I don’t think it’s impossible though it may be undesirable.
“The issue with fans coming out of cool stadia into boiling heat is clearly an issue but the idea of arbitrarily changing from summer to winter smacks of what I would call a false prospectus.”
Quite what FIFA will make of Bernstein’s latest comments is an obvious question given recent reconciliation efforts made by English football authorities in their relationship with the world governing body.
Bernstein believes many leagues beyond just the English Premier League are also fiercely opposed to a switch from the World Cup’s traditional June-July slot even though the European Club Association, which represents over 200 clubs, favours such a move.
Like the Premier League, he believes disruption would be huge but it is his comments about a potential re-bid that are bound to get tongues wagging.
“Bidding for the World Cup is a serious business. There’s a lot of money and national prestige involved. Fundamentally, to bid on one basis and then just change it afterwards cannot be right,” he said.
As part the back-to-ballot ballot in December 2010, England failed dismally in its 2018 bid, losing out to Russia. Bernstein was not in charge of the FA at the time but he will be aware of the legal minefield that would face FIFA if the process begins all over again.
Add to that the fact that the membership of FIFA’s executive committee – the body which voted in Russia and Qatar – has changed radically since the decision and you get some idea of how complicated a 2022 revote might be.
“It’s always a good day for lawyers when these things happen,” Bernstein added. “It’s very unfortunate.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734846176labto1734846176ofdlr1734846176owedi1734846176sni@w1734846176ahsra1734846176w.wer1734846176dna1734846176