World Cup 2022 in Qatar winter switch shambles
The?world of football was thrown into chaos today as it was announced by a FIFA chief that the 2022 World Cup had been switched to the winter – only for it to be denied minutes later.
The showpiece tournament, usually held in the summer, will switch to the winter because of the soaring temperatures in Qatar, General Secretary Jerome Valcke said.
He revealed: "To be honest, I think it will be held between November 15 and January 15 at the latest. You play with a temperature equivalent to that of a rather hot spring in Europe, you play with a temperature of 25 degrees (Celsius), which is perfect to play football."
The scheduling of the tournament has been hotly debated ever since it was controversially awarded to Qatar in December 2010 with fears the summer heat would be dangerous for players and fans.
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But despite the announcement Jim Boyce, vice president of FIFA, said: "As far as I am concerned I totally surprised by the news today."
FIFA later released a statement announcing no final decision had yet been made.
A consultation process looked at the impact of moving the tournament from June and July due to the extreme heat in the Gulf at that time of year. President Sepp Blatter had said: "The FIFA World Cup 2022 will be played in Qatar. There you have it. We have decided we are going to carry out consultations. These will include all the participants in the World Cup and stakeholders including players, clubs, leagues, national associations confederations and FIFA.
"There are also economic partners involved be they from marketing, the media and television and we need to bear in mind our obligations to these partners. We need to carry out very deep consultations and investigations and show some diplomacy and wisdom."
The switch will have a massive impact on the European game, including the Premier League and especially for top flight sides West Bromwich Albion and Villa.
UEFA president Michel Platini has told the Premier League to switch their dates after opposition to any change which would impact on the season in England.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said in August it would be "nigh-on impossible" to move the finals to winter.
The Africa Cup of Nations is already scheduled for January 2023 and Blatter said two months ago a firm decision on dates for the World Cup will be made in December 2014. The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee has indicated it would be happy to switch to a winter World Cup. Qatar has alright come under the spotlight over the issue of alleged mistreatment of migrant workers who are working on the new stadiums.
Claims from Amnesty International said workers are often subjected to non-payment of wages, dangerous working conditions and squalid accommodation.
Blatter said he would meet the country's new Emir and would raise the issue of the mistreatment. He said: "I will go with a delegation in the name of the ExCo of FIFA for a courtesy visit but it is also a visit to confirm the World Cup 2022.
"But I will also touch on this concern which concerns many people in the world and that is the working conditions in that country but we can't be the ones who can change it.
"It is a responsibility not only for Qatar but the construction companies, and there are many European companies working there."
