FIFA medical chief supports Qatar 2022 winter switch

FIFA’s own medical chief supports proposal to move 2022 World Cup in Qatar to winter.

08:49 17 September 2013

FIFA’s own medical chief, Michel D’Hooghe, supports proposal to move 2022 World Cup in Qatar to winter due to issues involving severe temperature during summertime in the middle eastern country. Previously, President Sepp Blatter who said that FIFA may have made a mistake awarding Qatar 2022 world cup, have already showed support for the same proposal.

D'Hooghe said: "The World Cup is about more than games and players.”

"I am sure the Qataris have the technical skill to organise a tournament where teams could play and train in a stable, acceptable temperature, but it's about the fans.

"They will need to travel from venue to venue and I think it's not a good idea for them to do that in temperatures of 47C or more."

Premiere League, which said that the winter switch can disrupt English domestic season, have rejected the proposal. Meanwhile, European Club Association has said that they are open to it. Previously, Football Association's chairman Greg Dyke, has said that summer tournament would be impossible in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Hassan al-Thawadi, has rejected suggestions to move the tournament to another country. He said: "I'd like to assure everybody that it is not an impossibility to host the World Cup in Qatar in the summer.”

"A summer World Cup is what we bid for - it's the original plan - and we are going for it and we are moving ahead with it."