FIFA Says No World Cup Compensation For European Clubs

FIFA President Sepp Blatter holds up the name of Qatar during the official announcement of the 2022 World Cup host country at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich on December 2, 2010 ©Philippe Desmazes (AFP)

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said Wednesday that European football clubs would not receive financial compensation for the 2022 World Cup being moved to November-December. "There will be no compensation. There are seven years to reorganize," he told a Doha press conference. "We are in agreement with the clubs."

European associations, representing major clubs from England, Germany and France, have already expressed their unhappiness with the switch recommended by a FIFA task force meeting in Qatar on Tuesday, amid speculation that some would seek financial redress for the decision.

The task force made a provisional recommendation for the tournament to start on November 26 and end on December 23, 2022, ensuring an enforced break on the domestic European leagues.

But Valcke said European clubs should accept the potential switch, even though "it's not perfect. It is happening once and we are doing nothing that destroys football," he added.

A final decision will be made by the FIFA executive committee at a meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on March 19-20.

English Premier League boss Richard Scudamore admitted after Tuesday's decision that he was "very disappointed" by the switch.