'Switch Bundesliga to summer' - Rummenigge

BERLIN (AFP) –

Bayern Munich’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge speaks on May 20, 2012 in Munich. Rummenigge has said he wants to see the Bundesliga become a summer league, with an eye on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said he wants to see the Bundesliga become a summer league, with an eye on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The local organising committee last month indicated that the tournament could be held in winter because of stifling summer temperatures in the Gulf state and Rummenigge said the Bundesliga should take the chance to change.

“The football family is united on this: (the 2022 World Cup) will be played in either January, February or October, November and I see this model as a chance for the Bundesliga,” Rummenigge was quoted as saying by Die Welt newspaper on Tuesday.

Rummenigge, who is also the chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), says there were obvious advantages for switching the German league.

“From May to August is when we do not play football in Germany, although that is when we get the best weather,” he said.

“Perhaps we should take a break when the weather is bad. It could be an advantage.”

Rummenigge’s Bayern Munich were crowned German champions for the 23rd time on Saturday after their 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt gave them the league title with six weeks remaining.