FIFA member says 2022 World Cup should not be in Qatar
A member of FIFA's executive committee says awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar was a "blatant mistake'' and that even moving it to avoid searing summer temperatures wouldn't be ideal.
Former German soccer federation president Theo Zwanziger tells SportBild that a suggestion by FIFA President Sepp Blatter to play the tournament in winter would seriously affect the European leagues and threaten the "unity of German football.''
Blatter plans to ask the committee to consider the switch - going back on his previous position of insisting on a summer tournament in a country where the temperature regularly exceeds 100 degrees.
"If this World Cup is to become a party for the people, you can't play football in the summer,'' Blatter said.
"You can cool down the stadiums but you can't cool down the whole country.''
Zwanziger said Blatter's U-turn showed that most of the executive committee had voted "against a fair awarding procedure'' in giving the World Cup to Qatar in 2010.
The 68-year-old former tax inspector said that rather than rescheduling the tournament, it should be awarded to another country.
"If the decision at the time was really wrong you have to cancel it and avoid burdens on those previously uninvolved,'' Zwanziger said. (AP)
The country has started various developmental projects primarily for the World Cup in nine years time.
Why didn't these people speak up at the time?
Blatter is an idiot who always gets his way. Qatar was awarded the WC and MUST be allowed to go ahead in the summer as agreed.
It will be terrible if in summer.
They should move to other country or in winter or not there will be no excitement of the game.
Qatar just monney, nothing history
This is a disappointment to many ppl I know who planned a college reunion at the time of 2022
If Blatter wants to switch to the winter , then there must be a rebid by the finalists. Otherwise it should be left god the summer with Qatar
Come on anyone with half a brain could figure out awarding the world cup to Qatar was a mistake.
Just look @ the Olympic's Qatar wasn't even allowed into the bidding process!
The whole mess just shows how corrupt Fifa is!!!!!
What nonsense............are these FIFA guys jokers?
Already a lot muddy story had been unfolded and I believe this is just start .... A lot yet to come on surface.
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