Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino adds weight to winter World Cup in Qatar in 2022

There are concerns over the heat during the summer months

Friday 07 June 2013 05:48 EDT
Comments
2022 World Cup It's yet to happen, but when it does, surely the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will take some beating for a strange place to play the most prestigious sporting tournament in the world. Temperatures during the summer reach 50 degrees a
2022 World Cup It's yet to happen, but when it does, surely the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will take some beating for a strange place to play the most prestigious sporting tournament in the world. Temperatures during the summer reach 50 degrees a (GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino has added his voice to those calling for a winter World Cup in Qatar in 2022, insisting football should be played in the most suitable weather.

Ever since FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar in 2010, there has been growing pressure for the event to be moved to avoid temperatures that can reach 50 degrees centigrade, despite Qatar's plan to spend more than £65bn on air-conditioned stadiums and other facilities.

The major European leagues - led by the Barclays Premier League - have opposed the idea of radically altering their schedules to accommodate a winter World Cup, but Infantino has joined FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini in backing the move.

In an interview with the Times, he said: "Whenever you play the World Cup should be the best period for it. I had the same reflections on South Africa in 2010.

"Four years earlier in Germany it was nice sunshine. South Africa is a beautiful country, but at five o'clock, it's night and it's 0C. It's not a celebration of football."

Infantino went on to say that he did not understand why football had been historically played in winter.

"You see people in stadiums with hats and scarves," he said. "Why did England, who brought to us this beautiful game, decide that football is for the winter and not for the summer? Cricket.

"The month of June, which the most beautiful month to play football, is hardly ever used except for the Euros and the World Cup. But the World Cup is played only ever 12 years, more of less, in Europe.

"I fully share this view that you have to play in the best period for football; that is not June or July in Qatar. This is an issue that FIFA has to sort out. The sooner they do it, the better. The decision for 2022 was taken in 2010, so in 12 years you can organise yourself."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in