Controversy hit football when Qatar won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Now it is set to continue as FIFA President Sepp Blatter “expects” it to be held in winter against the World Cup’s traditional timing.
As the AFC Asian Cup kicks off on Friday with the Qatar vs Uzbekistan match, Sepp Blatter is in Doha to honour the competition. The 74-year-old Swiss also consumed some of his time earlier this morning to interact with journalists. Discussing about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the FIFA President declared:
“I expect it will be held in the winter. We have time to look at this question. It’s still 11 years away, but we must decide the most adequate period for a successful World Cup – which means, in January or at the end of the year.
“Do not forget, there is still 11 years to go and although we have the basic conditions of their bid for a June and July World Cup, the FIFA executive committee is entitled to change anything that was in the bid.”
Qatar’s bid included the option of equipping their stadiums and the cities with air conditions – something which raised most people’s eyebrows whereas a minority of football’s public admired the idea and applauded the country’s ambition to stage a World Cup.
In Qatar, the temperature can go up to 40 degrees Celsius in summer. In winter, however, the temperature goes down and averages between 20 and 30 degrees – which should make it possible for footballers and fans to cope with weather conditions. Concluding on this matter, FIFA President Sepp Blatter stated:
“When you play football, you have to protect the main people and the players.”
More criticism is set to bombard FIFA’s choice to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar throughout the next 11 years. In the meantime, the Middle East country will try to defend their ability to stage major events through the AFC Asian Cup which will commence on Friday evening with the Qatar vs Uzbekistan match.
“I expect it will be held in the winter. We have time to look at this question. It’s still 11 years away, but we must decide the most adequate period for a successful World Cup – which means, in January or at the end of the year.
“Do not forget, there is still 11 years to go and although we have the basic conditions of their bid for a June and July World Cup, the FIFA executive committee is entitled to change anything that was in the bid.”
Qatar’s bid included the option of equipping their stadiums and the cities with air conditions – something which raised most people’s eyebrows whereas a minority of football’s public admired the idea and applauded the country’s ambition to stage a World Cup.
In Qatar, the temperature can go up to 40 degrees Celsius in summer. In winter, however, the temperature goes down and averages between 20 and 30 degrees – which should make it possible for footballers and fans to cope with weather conditions. Concluding on this matter, FIFA President Sepp Blatter stated:
“When you play football, you have to protect the main people and the players.”
More criticism is set to bombard FIFA’s choice to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar throughout the next 11 years. In the meantime, the Middle East country will try to defend their ability to stage major events through the AFC Asian Cup which will commence on Friday evening with the Qatar vs Uzbekistan match.
