Blatter’s press conference following FIFA’s executive committee meeting was always going to be closely watched, with both the U.S. and Swiss justice departments carrying out major investigations into corruption at world football.
Advertisement
The dates will end the tournament ahead of Christmas and it comes after earlier reports that the group would move the tournament to the winter to avoid the heat of the summer in Qatar. The 2014 World Cup in Brazil took 32 days, while 2010 in South Africa was held over 31 days.
A 28-day World Cup is four fewer than usual and is designed to cause less disruption to clubs and leagues which must shut down for several peak midseason weeks.
The English Premier League have maintained a strong stance against the possibility of rescheduling European competitions to arrange a World Cup away from its traditional summer slot. Federation Internationale de Football Association has been embroiled in scandal and when the tournament was first awarded, the group seemingly had no issues with players having to play in temperatures that could reach over 120 degrees. The clubs might have to change their season format a year before the World Cup to give the National teams enough time to prepare of the most watched sporting event in the World.
Advertisement
Michel Platini has acknowledged that he “might have told” American officials he would vote for the United States’ 2022 World Cup bid, before he voted for Qatar instead. Another strike against Qatar hosting is their statement of how many people will die from creating brand new cities and stadiums for this tournament.
