FA Chairman Dyke sets out stall over Qatar debate
Published:
The controversial decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup has reared its head again, with much talk over the timing of the international showpiece.
With the temperatures expected to be around and above the 40 degrees Celsius mark in the summer calls for the tournament to be moved from the traditional mid-year slot.
New FA chairman Greg Dyke has led the charge for a switch to a winter tournament, stating that he expects FIFA to break tradition and move the 2012 competition to the end of the calendar year, a decision that is now odds on to be made at 2/5.
“Even if all the stadia are air-conditioned, I think it will be impossible for the fans,” Dyke said.
“Just go out there and wander around in that sort of heat. I just don’t think it’s possible.
“My position, and I suspect the FA’s position, will be: ‘You can’t play it in the summer.'”
Such a strong stance from the head of the Football Association has caused friction with Premier League officials who are wary of any sort of plans that will disrupt their campaign.
A move could hamper broadcast deals around many of the major divisions and lead to a re-drawing of player’s contracts, which would cause great upset throughout world football, not to mention the potential for players to pick up mid-season injuries, thus hampering the performance of their club side.
It is 7/4 that the governing body decides to stage the tournament at the usual summer date.
Despite being odds against it would be a bold move from FIFA to switch a tournament that was awarded to a bid that was put together in order to hosts (host) a June/July based tournament.
Moving such a key event will lead to a raft of criticism, while subjecting players and supporters to sweltering temperatures could make a mockery of world football’s greatest competition.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
