Coventry La La La
New Member
Fifa have announced they have no 'concrete plans' to stage the 2022 World Cup in the winter.
Qatar were announced as winners of the bid to host the tournament in December 2010, but high temperatures during the summer months has led to talk of the competition being moved to a cooler time of year.
That has inevitably caused concern for many domestic leagues which would see their seasons disrupted by the rescheduled tournament.
Fifa clarified their position on Thursday, stressing Qatar would have to make the first move if the 2022 competition is to be held in the winter months.
No plans
A Fifa statement said: "At this stage there are no concrete plans to change the international match calendar.
"Any potential move of the 2022 Fifa World Cup from a summer to a winter period would have to be initiated by the football association of Qatar and would have to be presented to the Fifa executive committee."
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said at the start of this month that the 2022 World Cup is likely to be held in January instead of June.
He said: "I expect it will be held in the winter. We have time to look at this question, it is still 11 years away but we must decide the most adequate period for a successful World Cup which means January or the end of the year.
"When you play football you must protect the main people, the players."
Comfortable
Summer temperatures in Qatar can reach more than 50 degrees Celsius while those in the winter months are far more comfortable.
Qatar's successful bid was based on hosting the event in the summer using air-conditioned stadiums to combat the fierce heat.
The Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed Bin Hammam, who hails from Qatar, has already dismissed the prospect of a winter World Cup.
Speaking last week, Bin Hammam said: "We are not interested (in moving the World Cup) - we are very happy and we are promising the world that we are going to organise an amazing World Cup in June and July."