FIFA President Sepp Blatter "has reiterated his desire for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be played at the end of the year in the winter rather than in the searing heat of a Gulf summer," according to the AAP. Pressure has been building for the '22 tournament "to be moved from its traditional June-July slot due to temperatures."
A decision will not be taken until '15.
Blatter said, "The best date would be the end of the year. One has to remain realistic. If you change because you can't play in the summer then you must play in winter at the end of the year" (AAP, 4/21). The SID reported Blatter said FIFA "cannot be held responsible for construction delays and death of workers in the build-up to this year's World Cup in Brazil." He said, "The organization of the work has been done poorly. This is not the fault of football. The big companies, especially the German and French companies, are responsible" (SID, 4/20).
NO REPLAY: FOOTBALL ITALIA reported Blatter "has made clear his position on the continued debate of further help for referees with television replays." The debate this term "has centred in Italy on whether or not match officials need a greater level of assistance from live TV pictures to determine particular in-game decisions." While a number of coaches are in favor, Blatter "is not." Blatter: “I am fiercely conservative and that is why I do not want it” (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 4/21).
