Under pressure from European clubs, Fifa is backtracking on the idea of staging the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the winter. It has put the ball in Qatar’s court, stating that any decision would require an application from their national association to the Fifa executive. It is likely that Qatar will shelve a final decision until after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Under pressure from European clubs, Fifa is backtracking on the idea of staging the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the winter. It has put the ball in Qatar’s court, stating that any decision would require an application from their national association to the Fifa executive. It is likely that Qatar will shelve a final decision until after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Clubs and leagues across Europe have expressed concerns about what a ten-week break would do to their domestic seasons. There would also be knock-on effects on the seasons on either side. The controversy has also re-awakened country versus club tensions. The chief executive of the Bundesliga, Christian Seifert has pointed out that national leagues were already working within a ‘packed’ national calendar. He commented, ‘Maybe the international tournaments should pay more attention and respect to the clubs, leagues and national fans.’
When the European Club Association, successor to the powerful G-14 grouping, meets in Geneva in February it is expected to be a focus for the concerns being expressed by clubs. Perhaps Qatar will be able to show how well its air conditioning works in summer temperatures of 50 degrees centigrade (122F) after all.