Qatar, which won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup, has said it would consider an official request to hold the tournament during the winter, due to heat concerns. Summer temperatures in the MiddleEastern country regularly surpass 122°F, and while games would be held in air-conditioned stadiums, there have still been calls to change the timing for the sake of the fans.
“Whenour bid was selected by FIFA, everyone knew the World Cup was due to be played in June and July,” Qatar soccer federation president Hamad ben Khalifa ben Ahmed Al-Thani toldL’Equipe. “It’s true, though, that the tournament is about more than just Qatar. It’s universal. If FIFA and UEFA, notably, want to propose other dates, we have strong reasons to study thatsuggestion. For the moment, we’re going ahead with the plan that it’ll be held in the summer.
On a visit to Dubai last week, UEFA President Michel Platini said that thebest time for Qatar to host the World Cup would be November and December. In response, Al-Thani said, “We respect Michel Platini’s opinion, but it’s only an opinion as FIFA have not sent us anofficial request to study as yet.”
This has to be one of he worst decisions ever for the awarding of a WC. Batter and the rest of FIFA should be ashamed and all relieved of there duties. Is there any doubt that these knuckleheads were paid off?
So, MLS, which has been derided for having a season out of synch with the rest of the world, would actually have a season that ends in time for the Qatar WC. Is Blatter proposing that UEFA change their season to align with this new paradigm? Because for 2022 they’ve thrown out all historical and previous criteria/requirements to allow Qatar to host…