Thursday, March 21, 2013
Fifa play down prospect of 2022 World Cup vote re-run
There has been speculation the tournament in nine years' time could be
switched from summer to winter due to the oppressive heat in the Middle East
at that time of year.
Spanish newspaper AS claim in an interview that Blatter admitted that would "affect the basic conditions of the World Cup" and could prompt the voting process to be re-visited if one of the other 2022 candidates objected.
However, world governing body Fifa dispute the content of the interview and say Blatter said it was a "hypothetical scenario" as the dates of the World Cup will be decided on by the tournament organising committee.
A Fifa statement read: "Fifa would like to remind as communicated previously that in fact the bidding agreement clearly stipulates that the final decision on the format and dates for both competitions (Fifa Confederations Cup 2021 and Fifa World Cup 2022) is vested with the Fifa Organising Committee which may hear recommendations from the LOC (local organising committee). "Therefore, nothing has changed to what we have said previously.
"As it stands today, the 2022 Fifa World Cup is planned to be staged in Qatar in June/July 2022.
"Any potential change would have to be first requested by the competition organisers, ie. Qatar, and then presented to the Fifa Executive Committee for analysis."
Qatar was a controversial choice and, in the same interview, Blatter admitted Fifa's executive committee must accept the criticism which has come their way.
Spanish newspaper AS claim in an interview that Blatter admitted that would "affect the basic conditions of the World Cup" and could prompt the voting process to be re-visited if one of the other 2022 candidates objected.
However, world governing body Fifa dispute the content of the interview and say Blatter said it was a "hypothetical scenario" as the dates of the World Cup will be decided on by the tournament organising committee.
A Fifa statement read: "Fifa would like to remind as communicated previously that in fact the bidding agreement clearly stipulates that the final decision on the format and dates for both competitions (Fifa Confederations Cup 2021 and Fifa World Cup 2022) is vested with the Fifa Organising Committee which may hear recommendations from the LOC (local organising committee). "Therefore, nothing has changed to what we have said previously.
"As it stands today, the 2022 Fifa World Cup is planned to be staged in Qatar in June/July 2022.
"Any potential change would have to be first requested by the competition organisers, ie. Qatar, and then presented to the Fifa Executive Committee for analysis."
Qatar was a controversial choice and, in the same interview, Blatter admitted Fifa's executive committee must accept the criticism which has come their way.
