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UEFA want the 2022 World
Cup final to be played two days before Christmas
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UEFA says it wants the 2022 World Cup final in
Qatar to be held two days before Christmas because it would have less impact on
its own international matches. The European body's proposed date of December 23
has sparked uproar in Britain as it would threaten the traditional festive club
programme.
A FIFA task force on Tuesday recommended that the
2022 tournament should be played in late November to late December to avoid the
heat of the summer,
but FIFA's executive committee will make a final decision on the dates on March
20.
Press Association reports UEFA's position has
infuriated the Premier League - and it appears the governing body is pushing
for December 23 to reduce disruption to its new Nations League competition.
A spokesman said:
"Earlier [than December 23] would have more impact on European
qualifiers."
December 18 remains a
strong possibility, however - it is Qatar's national day and also falls on a
Sunday, and would be early enough for the festive club programme to take place.
FIFA's general secretary
Jerome Valcke has confirmed that the 2022 World Cup will be four days shorter
as a "concession" to the league and clubs, 28 days instead of the
usual 32, and that the African Nations Cup in 2023 will be moved to June 2023
from January.
He also said no apology
was necessary to the clubs despite the disruption it will cause to domestic
football across the globe. He also ruled out paying compensation.
Valcke told a news
conference in Doha after a Qatar 2022 organizing committee board meeting:
"We are bringing all our people to enjoy the sporting and financial
results of the World Cup so why should we apologize - I definitely don't feel I
have to apologize for the decision made yesterday. There will be no
compensation."
Valcke also appeared to
confirm the deal to extend the USA TV rights deal with Fox to include the 2026
World Cup had been done to avert the threat of any legal action over its 2022
deal.
He said: ''We have done
what we had to do in order to protect FIFA and the organization of the World
Cup.''
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