Middle East rulers are fast getting on the democracy bandwagon, lest they face an insurrection. Qatari emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will "ask the people" of his country to decide whether to hold the 2022 World Cup in winter to avoid the intense summer heat.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter had suggested that it was better that the 2022 World Cup be played in the summer, when temperatures often surpass 113 degrees, but then backed off that stance.

Other international soccer leaders called for the tournament be switched to winter, but local soccer officials insisted that any decision would be made by Qatar itself.