FIFA Qatar vote should be negated until tournament timing correctly coordinated
As the decision on who would hold the 2018 and 2022 World Cups drew near, FIFA faced yet more allegations of corruption following investigations by sections of the British media. When the 22 man Executive Committee gathered in Zurich on 2nd December to cast their vote, no-one could have anticipated what was about to happen. As the two nations were chosen, FIFA would yet again face more questions.
Firstly, Russia were selected ahead of the likes of England and a joint bid by Spain and Portugal as the nation to hold the 2018 World Cup. A few eyebrows were raised due to the perceived corruption within the country but it was nothing compared to what happened next. Next it was revealed that Qatar had been chosen as the nation to hold the 2022 edition. To say the football world was in shock is an understatement. No-one could quite believe what had happened, none more so than fellow 2022 bidders including the USA and Australia.
At first everyone was questioning the decision due to the extreme summer temperatures in the Gulf state but organisers in Qatar played down concerns by pointing out that they were going to build air conditioned stadiums. However, it seemed everyone had forgotten about the comfort of the fans and players when outside the stadiums and soon the idea of a winter World Cup was being discussed. Initially, the idea was raised by former German international and legend Franz Beckenbauer but soon after FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitted that he would support the idea.
However, with this proposal came controversy as holding the tournament in the winter would heavily disrupt the football calendar in Europe. The schedule would have to be completely revamped and managers in Europe and England raised their objections to such a move. The situation got even more messy when the Qatari president of the AFC, Mohammed Bin Hammam rejected the idea. In January Bin Hammam said, ‘I’m not really impressed with these opinions to change the time from July to January. It is never our interest to change one week beyond June, July.’ The fiasco completed a full circle last month when Blatter gave the strongest indication yet that the 2002 tournament will indeed be held in the summer. He said, ‘I think for now, the matter is on ice. Everything is settled for the summer.’
The decision to choose Qatar to hold the World Cup in 2022 was a ridiculous one but the conundrum that has ensued over the when the tournament will be held has been quite frankly embarrassing. This is meant to be one of sport’s most prestigious events after all! Before the 22 man Executive Committee casted their vote, they should have considered that summer temperatures of 50 degrees may be a bit too hot! While the tournament is still over 11 years away, there have been arguments that the vote should be negated until we get a concrete confirmation to when the World Cup will be held.
Blatter’s comments last month seem to suggest that the decision is on hold at the moment but in order to save some credibility, surely the decision needs to come quickly. Either way it’s a lose lose situation. If it’s in the summer, the searing temperatures will put off the fans from attending and if it’s held in the winter then major rescheduling to the European football calendar will have to occur. Overall it’s a mess!
