Fifa president Sepp Blatter says handing the 2022 World Cup to Qatar might be a mistake as summer temperatures over there can reach 50C which would mean extremely difficult conditions to play in.
Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has already said it would be “Impossible” to play in these conditions and wants Blatter to move the tournament to Winter.
“It may well be that we made a mistake at the time.” said Blatter. “On the other hand, you must also consider political and geo-political realities.
“The World Cup is Fifa’s biggest, if not only, global event. Who are we, the Europeans, to demand that this event has to cater to the needs of 800million Europeans above all?
“I think it is high time that Europe starts to understand that we do not rule the world anymore, and that some former European imperial powers can no longer impress their will onto others in far away places.
“We must accept that football has moved away from being a European and South American sport – it has become the world sport that billions of fans are excitedly following every week, everywhere in the world.”
Blatter is hoping that Fifa’s executive committee will follow his proposal and move the tournament to winter when they all meet next month.
If it all goes well Blatter added: “The next steps will include a close look at the international calendar and to establish what consequences the change would have.
“And we would naturally need to speak to and consult with all interested parties and stakeholders.”
Written By George Coomber
