Qatar 2022 May
October 30, 2014
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), has proposed April 28-May 29 as the preferred dates to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ever since the small, oil-rich state was awarded hosting rights in December 2010, there have been a myriad of issues facing the world's governing body, FIFA.
Concerns were raised around the high temperatures during the traditional time to host the World Cup and the disastrous human rights record - the estimation by one British newspaper is that more than 4,000 could die in the construction of World Cup stadiums.
The temperature can exceed 40 degrees Celsius in June and July, the two months where the World Cup squeezes into a packed domestic schedule, and proposals of a World Cup, held during the winter months, have been written off by Europe's top clubs.
Theo Zwanziger, the German member of the FIFA Executive Committee, publicly expressed his concern for the safety of players and fans and wasn't confident that Qatar would even continue to be host nation of the event.
But the Bayern Munich vice-president has presented a solution, which he describes as the "best proposal", backed by Europe's top football clubs and many of the 214 members from the ECA.
The ECA's plan would see the World Cup staged between April and May of 2022 and would have no impact on domestic and international competitions of the following season.
The 2021-22 season would begin two weeks earlier in the preceding summer, whilst major cup competitions would resume after the World Cup final in May 2022.
Knockout stages of the Champions League - currently spread over four weeks - would be packed into a shortened two-week period. The stance of UEFA, Europe's governing body, over the new proposals remains unclear.
Kick-off times would largely be staged in the evening with 18:00, 20:30 and 23:00 BST included in the new proposals. The temperature will largely be similar to that experienced at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when the thermometer exceeded over 30 degrees for some matches.
"It takes into account the climate issue," Rummenigge said, "and whilst preserving the traditional running of a club football season.
"This proposal needs to be seriously considered by all stakeholders. It is an achievable solution."
Rummenigge and the ECA's proposals will be discussed on Monday when FIFA's task force convenes in Zurich for the second time.
A final decision on Qatar 2022's schedule is expected in March 2015.
rd/asz (BILD, dpa)