FIFA's proposal to move Qatar 2022 World Cup to winter not acceptable to Premier League

Sepp Blatter

FIFA’s proposal to move the Qatar 2022 World cup to winter has hit a roadblock as the English Premier League has publicly sttated that the decision is unpalatable for them due to commercial reasons.

The Premier League has said that it would oppose any move of the tournament to earlier in the year on the grounds that it would cause clear disruption to its three domestic seasons. There would be problems accommodating the 2021/22 campaign and the seasons sandwiched on either side, therefore impacting contracts issued to the broadcasters.

A Premier League spokesman said: “The Premier League position remains unchanged. The prospect of a winter World Cup is neither workable nor desirable for European domestic football.”

FIFA head Sepp Blatter has said that he believed that the tournament could not take place in the searing summer heat of Qatar in June, and proposed a winter resheduling instead

October 3 and 4 have been set as the dates for FIFA’s executive committee meeting to be held at Zurich, which will discuss this issue and hopefully find a consensus on the scheduling.

The FIFA president has been vocal about how it would not be in the players’ or the fans’ interest to have the tournament in summer. He felt that it was possible to cool down the stadiums but it was going to be impossible to reduce the temperature of the entire country.

Source: Sky Sports