Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 10, 2014 Sports
FIFA’s Secretary General has stated that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar ‘will not be in June or July’. Jerome Valcke, who has been given the task of looking at alternative dates due to the fierce heat of the summer in Qatar, says it is likely to be held sometime between November 15 and January 15.
Valcke told France Info (radio station): ‘It will not be in June or July. Frankly I think it’ll be played between November 15 and January 15 at the latest. ‘If you play between November 15 and the end of the year that’s when the weather is at its most favourable.’
Valcke suggested it will be ‘like a warm spring in Europe’ with ‘an average temperature of 25 degrees, therefore it’s perfect for football’.
Valcke’s statement however is likely to need ratification by FIFA’s executive committee. However, FIFA said in a statement that it was Valcke’s own view but that no decision had been taken on the timing.
The statement said: ‘Secretary General Jerome Valcke explained in the Radio France interview – as he had already mentioned previously – that in his view the 2022 FIFA World Cup must take place in winter and the best possible time frame would be 15 November to 15 January.
‘However, the precise event date is still subject to an ongoing consultation process which involves all main event stakeholders, including both the international football community (FIFA, confederations, member associations, leagues, clubs, players) as well as FIFA’s commercial partners (commercial affiliates and media rights licensees).
‘As the event will not be played until eight years’ time the consultation process will not be rushed and will be given the necessary time to consider all of the elements relevant for a decision.
‘Consequently, no decision will be taken before the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil as agreed by the FIFA executive committee.’
Meanwhile, Britain’s FIFA Vice President Jim Boyce said he was ‘totally surprised’ at the statement – and confirmed the decision had to be taken by the executive committee.
‘I was totally surprised this morning when I heard what Jerome has said,’ Boyce said. ‘As I understand it all the stakeholders will have discussions and report back to the executive committee of FIFA and no final decision will be made on when the 2022 World Cup would be played until December 2014 or March 2015.
‘As far as I am concerned that remains the situation and there has been nothing said to me to make that any different.’ Boyce, from Northern Ireland, said Valcke ‘may have been stating his personal opinion’.
He also said there had been a general assumption that the 2022 World Cup could not be played in the summer due to the heat. That view has previously been expressed by UEFA’s 54 member countries and FIFA president Sepp Blatter but no decision on alternative dates has been taken.
‘There is an expectation but there has been no decision,’ said Boyce.
UEFA President Michel Platini said last year that the tournament must be held during the winter to protect the players and fans from the searing desert heat. Temperatures can exceed 40 degrees in the summer in the middle-eastern country, compared to a more comfortable 17 degrees in the winter.
The finals were controversially awarded to Qatar in 2011 with Platini, the UEFA president, one of those who voted in their favour.
‘I am in favour of Qatar under two conditions,’ the former France star said. ‘Because of the heat the World Cup will need to be held in the winter.
‘With over 40 degrees, playing football is impossible and for fans it would also be unbearable.’
FA chairman Greg Dyke also expressed concern about a summer tournament.
‘They (FIFA) were warned,’ he said in August. ‘There was a report that said there could be real health risks if you held it there. ‘Even if you can overcome the problem by playing games in air-conditioned stadiums and find places for teams to train, the real concern is for fans.
‘Fans turn up in large numbers, often if they haven’t got tickets. If you remember the German World Cup, there were large numbers watching from outside the stadium on big screens and it was a great atmosphere.
‘How can you do that in 40 degrees? You can’t. It is actually dangerous for fans.’ (MailOnline)
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