Bundesliga chief slams FIFA decision to host World Cup in Qatar

FIFA’s decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar came under heavy criticism. Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert condemned the move by saying that this decision: “is not for the good of the game“.

It was his view that the event, hosted in hostile conditions of a desert country, could adversely affect the players’ health. Speaking in London, he made his views very clear, “The priority is always first the health of the players and this is what makes me most upset that the decision was done that ignores probably the health of the players and that ignores what is real in the game“.

Seifert strongly added saying: “If you make a decision which is so far away from the sports perspective if it turns out only to become, let’s say, politically driven, sports politics decision, then this is not good for the game … I’m not sure of the credibility of FIFA. Maybe first they should change the claim – because this (Qatar) is not for the good of the game.“

Qatar’s bid to introduce air-conditioned stadiums at the venues has not done anything to decrease the negativity surrounding the decision to play in a 50-degree environment. Seifert noted that moving the World Cup date to the winter would beat the heat, but would disrupt the schedules of all the European leagues.

He added: “From other leagues I do have the feeling they are also very upset with the situation – that the decision was done and that a four-week tournament effects maybe three years of running of professional football leagues in Europe.

“It shows me which FIFA, as a body which says what’s good for the game, ignores completely the day-by-day basis in those leagues who are effectively the core and the heart of football – not the tournament that comes up every four years.“

Source: theage