So, finally, common sense has prevailed and FIFA’s Task Force has recommended that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar should be played in November and December.
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It was hardly a surprise that this would be the outcome in the latest chapter of what has been a messy, resentful debate since the Arab nation was awarded the tournament in 2010.
Let’s face it, playing football in temperatures that can hit 50ºC was a no, no.
Late-November/late-December proposed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup: http://t.co/wm9dgALTGd
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) February 24, 2015
Maybe you could have stadiums where the temperature is controlled but you can’t air-condition an entire country and it could have led to unthinkable consequences.
After allegations of corruption, bribery and human rights issues yesterday’s announcement appears to at least be something positive but it’s unlikely to lead to a cooling off of ill feeling in this saga of controversy, for a while anyway.
The searing temperatures of a Qatar summer may no longer be the issue but there are already the inevitable rumblings of more discontent from European clubs.
The English FA have been one of the most vociferous opponents of the Qatar World Cup and, unsurprisingly, chairman Greg Dyke couldn’t resist having yet another pop at the original decision to allow the World Cup to be played in Qatar, describing yesterday’s decision as “the best of the bad options.”
Yes, it is going to cause some disruption because European leagues will be half way through their seasons but 2022 is almost eight years away which gives them more than enough time to rearrange the fixtures and make it work.
It probably means that the Premier League, for example, would finish in June, rather than May. Big deal! Get over it; it’s a one off and at the end of the day the Premier League does not run world football.
Yes, I know FIFA generally don’t make a very good job of it, but you get my point.
One of the proposed dates for the 2022 World Cup is from November 26 to December 23 but the complaint from the Premier League, Dyke and Britain’s FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce is that it is too close to Christmas and the traditional Festive football programme in England.
A Christmas World Cup sounds ok to me, but they have a point and it’s a problem FIFA can solve immediately by moving the tournament a week earlier which is what the EPL will be pushing for. December 18 happens to be Qatar’s National Day so expect a yes on that one.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the European Clubs’ Association, said clubs would expect financial compensation for the disruption caused. Another fair point, and one that can be settled if financial loss can be proved.
Behind all the predictable moans and groans there is one massive positive of holding a winter World Cup rather than after the end of the season when most players are tired.
This won’t be the case half way through the season so the players will be fresher which should mean the tournament will be more competitive and even teams like England, who often use players’ tiredness as an excuse for dismal failure, might actually have a chance of winning.
There are still issues to be resolved but yesterday’s decision marked the time to draw a line in the sand on the bitter resentment that has surrounded this tournament, accept that Qatar will host the World Cup and for world football to move forward together.
