Europe’s leading clubs have stated that they are “open” to the possibility of a winter World Cup in Qatar in 2022.Fifa chief Sepp Blatter has called for the tournament to be moved because of concern over how players would cope in the summer heat.
“We’re not in a hurry, there are still nine years to go,” said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of the ECA, which represents Europe’s top teams.
“The feeling is it is probably better to play it in winter.”
Since Qatar won the right to host the World Cup in 2010, the practicalities of staging a summer tournament in the Middle East – where temperatures of 40C and above are common – has been debated.
After voicing his own concerns in July, Blatter said he would consult the host nation and his executive committee about his proposals to have the World Cup moved to the winter.
The Swiss Fifa president has also suggested that it might have been a “mistake” to award the Gulf state the World Cup.
Rummenigge added: “Having the World Cup in Qatar is not a mistake.
“We are requesting a solution which in the end is not affecting too much of our business. After visiting Qatar at our last general assembly we had a good feeling about the organisation of a World Cup there.” – BBC Sport
