Menu
International Football

FIFA Won't Pay Compensation To Clubs Over 2022 Qatar World Cup Move To Winter

FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke said that the Premier League and the rest of Europe’s top clubs "will not receive any financial compensation as a result of the 2022 Qatar World Cup being moved to the winter," according to Mark Cue of the LONDON TIMES. The Frenchman said that "he had no reason to apologise" and that a potential World Cup final on Dec. 23 had UEFA support. Valcke’s stance "puts him at odds" with European Clubs' Association Chair Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who has called for financial settlements for the disruption. Rummenigge: "There will be no compensation. There are seven years to reorganize. We are in agreement with the clubs. It’s not perfect, we know that -- but why are we talking about compensation? It’s happening once; we’re not destroying football." Valcke said, "Why should we apologize to the clubs? We have had an agreement with the clubs that they are part of the beneficiaries. It was $40 million in 2010 and $70 million in 2014" (LONDON TIMES, 2/25). The BBC reported Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore said that "a final that close to Christmas will cause havoc with the traditional festive club program," while FIFA VP Jim Boyce "wants it played a week earlier." But Valcke said that UEFA and other confederations "are keen on" Friday, Dec. 23, although Dec. 18 is also a possibility. Scottish FA CEO Stewart Regan "has added his voice to those lamenting the impact a winter World Cup will have on leagues and clubs around the world." He said, "We will look at the knock-on effects of the decision and how it will affect Scottish football. Clearly there will be fixture challenges for leagues across the world" (BBC, 2/25).

MAKING 'CONCESSIONS': The PA's Martyn Ziegler reported Valcke also 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 from January." Valcke also appeared to confirm the deal to extend the U.S. 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." Valcke: "We have done what we had to do in order to protect FIFA and the organization of the World Cup" (PA, 2/25). NEWS.com.au reported a FIFA statement said the task force "was exploring the option of staging the Confederations Cup in another Asian confederation country during the traditional June/July window in 2021, and using another FIFA competition such as the Club World Cup as the operational test event for Qatar in November/December 2021." Task Force Chair Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa: "We are very pleased that, after careful consideration of the various opinions and detailed discussions with all stakeholders, we have identified what we believe to be the best solution for the 2018-2024 international match calendar and football in general" (NEWS.com.au, 2/25). In London, Tom Peck wrote the Premier League "is considering legal action" against FIFA after its recommendation to move the 2022 World Cup to November and December. Scudamore said that the Premier League "will now 'consult with our clubs and other stakeholders,' including the all-powerful broadcasters." Scudamore: "Clearly there is still time within the process to consider our position further ... before deciding on what, if any, further action might be appropriate. It is clear that the views of the European leagues ... have not been given serious consideration." More than 50 leagues "will have to be reorganized." But the Premier League "may face the biggest impact in terms of the amount paid for TV rights during its busy festive period" (INDEPENDENT, 2/24).

'WILD GOOSE CHASE': In Sydney, Michael Lynch opined A$45M ($35.5M) is the sum of taxpayer money "wasted on what turned out to be the wildest of wild goose chases, the pursuit of the 2022 World Cup." It is "not that the Australians were outsiders to get the tournament, but the fact that the whole bidding process, widely suspected to be corrupt at the time, now stands as a complete and utter sham." To now change the timing of the World Cup from the June/July period in which it "has invariably been held every four years since its inception in 1930 (wartime cancellations aside) may be common sense, but it's far too late and completely unfair" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/25).

HARSH CRITICISM: FOCUS ONLINE reported Bundesliga President Reinhard Rauball "has harshly criticized FIFA's proposed move of the 2022 World Cup." He also highlighted the league's "demand for compensation." Rauball: "The big European leagues are the ones who have to pay for a number of wrong decisions. In terms of climate, it was clear there are these problems. It's preposterous and has to be compensated." He added that a World Cup final on Dec. 23 is "almost worse" than the financial aspect. Rauball: "I doubt that everyone, fans and teams, will be back home for Christmas. It still is an affront to me" (FOCUS ONLINE, 2/25). The DPA reported that the Basketball Bundesliga "is considering taking a break during the 2022 World Cup." BBL CEO Jan Pommer: "We have to keep our minds open, we have evaluate the situation from all angles. It's certainly a possibility." The BBL season usually starts in October, with the playoffs tipping off in May (DPA, 2/25).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2015/02/26/International-Football/Qatar-Winter-World-Cup.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2015/02/26/International-Football/Qatar-Winter-World-Cup.aspx

CLOSE