Qatar winter world cup debate  In round four, after eliminating Australia, Japan and South Korea, FIFA’s final vote was 8 for the USA and 14 for Qatar.  Therefore, Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the middle of its two hottest months, when it is illegal for labourers to work outside if the temperature reaches the seasonal average of 40 degrees centigrade.

Either that, or the World Cup will be moved from Qatar’s summer to Qatar’s winter, sometime smack in the middle of several other international winter sports competitions, like Europe’s football season and the 2022 Winter Olympics, for instance.

No one seems to be quite sure just why the tiny and very wealthy emirate of Qatar won the coveted position of host, and hardly anyone seems to be happy about it.  Sports fans, commentators and analysts from all over the place are logging in to express disbelief and dissatisfaction at what most are calling at best a huge gamble and at worst a total fiasco.  There are of course rumours of knavery and corruption, though none have been even faintly confirmed.  What is fairly certain is that FIFA’s credibility is at very low ebb.

Sepp Blatter has been FIFA’s president for 12 years now and apparently intends to go on for another four after the FIFA congress in Zurich this June.  He said he would personally clean up the Association’s image, proposing a new committee to oversee the ethics of the voting members.  He said this committee would be composed of reputable and experienced figures in finance, business, culture and politics as well as sports, and would thereby shore up the sagging credibility of the world’s foremost football authority.

Possibly the most serious blow to the Association’s image is the suspicion that all of Qatar’s magnificent promises regarding new infrastructure, new stadiums, and carbon-free air-conditioning may have been a smokescreen.  It has become apparent that a change in the timing of the World Cup was already on the table before the final votes were counted.

World Cup finals may move to winter  Following the decision to award Qatar the organization of FIFA Football World Cup in 2022, many have expressed their concern because of the high temperatures in the Middle East during the summer season. Some members of the football community have proposed rescheduling the World Cup to be played in January or February, when the temperature is more manageable in the area. If it happened, the move will be the first of a kind. It will also mean that the world club will interrupt major European leagues.

Sepp Blatter, the FIFA President, expressed that he is in support of the idea.‘Playing in winter is more appropriate not only, for the fans, but for the players as well,’ Said Blatter at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. ‘If it is possible, and it should be, playing in winter will offer more protection to footballers.’

‘The international could be an issue,’ admitted blatter.’ but it has been eleven years so it should be possible,’ The organizers on the other hand, have submitted plans to air-condition all stadiums and training facilities.

So far, FIFA has not received any official request to change the tournament timing. However, high profile support for the schedule change may make it a reality. ‘Flexible schedules will mean that the World Cup can go to many more countries,’ said the FIFA general secretary, Jerome Valcke.

Blatter also took the chance to apologies for his calling on gay fans travelling to Qatar to refrain from sexual activities during their visit. ‘I regret and apologies if my statement offended anyone; It was never my intention,’ Blatter said.