Qatar 2022 set for November/December

[TBM]

23rd December being banded about as the WC final date

lol thats my anniversary

[Winston Smith]

23rd December being banded about as the WC final date

lol thats my anniversary

Congratulations m8! HAGO

[TBM]

23rd December being banded about as the WC final date

lol thats my anniversary

Congratulations m8! HAGO

It will be 15 years too

[Kitsondinho]

I am all for the World Cup being a truly world event, played in as many different countries as is possible. I am also happy about it being taken somewhere that football isn't the biggest sport (USA '94 was bloody awesome!) BUT WC2022 isn't about that. The bidding process was corrupt and should be annulled. Qatar did not bid for a winter World Cup. They were awarded the tournament through flawed voting and now want to hang onto it by bending/breaking every rule set down in the bidding process. The saddest thing about it is that no-one has the guts to stand up to FIFA. UEFA are a disgrace, led by the fat Frenchman who wants Blatter's job. All it would take is for UEFA to pull out and some other federations would follow. Would FIFA really want a W/Cup without most of the previous winners??

[WoodleyRoyal]

why don't they put roof's on all the stadiums and install air con

[Sutekh]

I am all for the World Cup being a truly world event, played in as many different countries as is possible. I am also happy about it being taken somewhere that football isn't the biggest sport (USA '94 was bloody awesome!) BUT WC2022 isn't about that. The bidding process was corrupt and should be annulled. Qatar did not bid for a winter World Cup. They were awarded the tournament through flawed voting and now want to hang onto it by bending/breaking every rule set down in the bidding process. The saddest thing about it is that no-one has the guts to stand up to FIFA. UEFA are a disgrace, led by the fat Frenchman who wants Blatter's job. All it would take is for UEFA to pull out and some other federations would follow. Would FIFA really want a W/Cup without most of the previous winners??

Absolutely agree. And although the leading leagues and clubs in Europe are dead against it funnily enough they'll all happily agree when FIFA decide to finally offer wads of dosh as compensation.

[Kitsondinho]

Funniest thing about it has been Scudamore raging about 'compromised integrity of the PL'.....when he is the man who still wants game 39!

[Stranded]

PL will really be the only league majorly affected. Other Euro leagues will just have their winter break early or extend it a little.

Can almost guarantee that, if it hasn't happened by then, the 2022/23 FA Cup will be no replays forced on them by this outrage. They will of course not return to the normal format at any point afterwards. Guarantees to free up 4 midweeks for PL fixtures that year as well.

Assuming the league were to pick up again on Boxing Day, then I think we'd be looking at a maximum of 7 rounds being rescheduled. The league will start earlier from next season (8/8) to help alleviate fixture congestion, so for 2022/23, it could start a week earlier, at the end of July (30th July is a Saturday) and run through to end of May.

4 rounds recovered by the lack of replays, one by starting a week earlier. Leaving 2 rounds to find a gap for. Not that big a change really to accomodate.

[Big Foot]

IMO

Will be a huge shame if no more FA Cup replays

[TBM]

why don't they put roof's on all the stadiums and install air con

I think they're more concerned about the supporters, outside of the games. Can you imagine if people start to die cos they can't cope with the heat - FIFA would be in so much shit for allowing a WC in the middle of their summer.

[Silver Fox]

People dying building the stadia doesn't seem to have upset FIFA much so far

[TBM]

People dying building the stadia doesn't seem to have upset FIFA much so far

3rd world countries don't matter

[Handsome Man]

It should be in England in the summer. Anything else is ridiculous and crooked.

[Stuka]

It should be in England in the summer. Anything else is ridiculous and crooked.

Absolutely cast iron +1

[Sutekh]

Agreed, after all Wimbledon is always held in England and that's EVERY year so why not the World Cup every 4 years?

[Zammo]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31975274

Fifa has confirmed that the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar will take place on 18 December. As England will either not qualify or get knocked out in the group stages, the Premiership will pretty much continue as normal.

[Sutekh]

From the Yahoo site

World Cup - Sepp Blatter rejects FIFA debate invite

The other three candidates, FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, Dutch FA president Michael van Praag and former Portugal international Luis Figo, had all agreed to take part in the debate but current FIFA president Blatter has refused to do so.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter is likely to face questions about his refusal to join in a TV debate

The debate was a joint BBC and Sky initiative and the Football Association chairman, Greg Dyke, had offered to host it at Wembley. Blatter's refusal means it will not take place.

Charles Sale of the Daily Mail describes the decision as a considerable snub to the BBC, in his column in the Daily Mail.

Blatter did not even respond in writing but communicated his decision verbally via a FIFA official.

Prince Ali said last month that a public debate was an important step for the world governing body, saying: "If we are talking about transparency, I would like to see a public debate including the incumbent."

Figo also indicated his support, saying: "The fans deserve to know what the candidates offer for the future."

Blatter is likely to face questions about his refusal at a news conference in Zurich on Friday following FIFA's executive committee meeting which will decide on the dates for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which is to be played in the winter.

His rivals are also understood to be questioning Blatter's apparent use of FIFA staff in helping him win support to remain president.

He appears not to have appointed anyone to work on his campaign, while FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has reminded "all FIFA staff members that they, consultants or any other persons appointed by or working for FIFA are not permitted to take part in any way in these election campaigns".