FIFA president Sepp Blatter confirmed on Friday that he would favour playing the controversial 2022 Qatar World Cup in November and December.
“We are starting the consultations to bring it to the winter time. It can only be done in November-December, not January-February,” Blatter told reporters in Abu Dhabi, where he will attend this weekend’s under-17 World Cup final between Nigeria and Mexico.
The prospect of moving the 2022 World Cup from its traditional June and July slot has angered winter sports federations because of a possible clash with that year’s Winter Olympics.
Winter sports federations and broadcasters argue that a high-profile football event clashing with their own seasons would dent television audiences and revenues.
Dele Alampasu of Nigeria recieves the Golden Glove awards from FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter during the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 Final between Nigeria and Mexico at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium on November 8, 2013 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (FIFA)
But putting the staging of the World Cup back to the end of the year would appease them, while also meaning that the tournament would interfere with the 2022-23 football season rather than 2021-22.
The world of football is already split, with critics saying the climate issue could hardly have escaped FIFA’s notice when Qatar initially bid for the hosting of the tournament.
However, England’s Premier League has led the opposition to moving the start date of the tournament.
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