DOHA: Qatar, hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is committed to staging football’s showpiece event in its traditional window of June-July but a top official has said the organisers of the event would be prepared to alter the schedule.
Speaking at a FT/IFA Business of Football Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Hassan Al Thawadi (pictured), Secretary-General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, said: “There are significant voices in the football community who are saying winter would be perfect.”
According to a report posted on www.qfa.com.qa, Al Thawadi added: “We are willing to have that debate to decide which is the best time. It’s the World Cup, it’s not Qatar’s cup. If we don’t sit down and listen to what the world wants, we would be doing an injustice to the World Cup.”
Al Thawadi said: “The way I see it, a number of people have spoken about their preference for it to move. It would have to be discussed with the football community.”
Last week, UEFA Secretary General Gianni Infantino joined calls for the tournament to be held in the winter amid fears over the scorching temperatures close to 50°C in the Qatari summer.
Concerns have been raised over player safety while Qatar’s proposed air conditioning system inside the stadiums has yet to be fully tested.
But Al Thawadi said: “When we bid for the World Cup our intention was always for it to be in June. The weather is not very bad in Doha in June, it’s not so bad.”The Peninsula
