Platini calls for debate on Qatar World Cup dates

UEFA president Michel Platini on Friday called for a debate on whether the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could take place in January, to spare players from soaring summer temperatures in the country.

“There are questions that must form part of a global reflection,” said Platini, at the end of a two-day UEFA executive committee meeting here.

“We have lots to discuss in the months and years ahead. Because if we have a World Cup in January, there are lots of things that will have to be changed in the calendar.”

The idea of hosting the 2022 World Cup in January was recently mooted by former Germany captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer, who is a member of world governing body FIFA’s executive committee.

“I agree, and why not?” said Platini on Friday, adding that it would be “easier” for players from around the world to play matches in the Gulf country in January rather than in June.

“But in the month of January, there are matches in lots of countries. Should we play football or stop?” the Frenchman asked.

Another question linked to the idea of organising the World Cup in January is the issue of how much time the players would need to recover afterwards — raising the possibility that domestic leagues would not resume until March.

“In the United States, the temperature in cities like Dallas was 45 degrees (Celsius) during the 1994 World Cup and nobody criticised the United States about anything,” said Platini.

The chief of UEFA, European football’s governing body, also took the opportunity to celebrate FIFA’s decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to two countries — Russia and Qatar — who have never hosted it before.

“If we’re talking about global football development, which is the goal of organisations like FIFA, or the development of European football, which is the goal of UEFA, it’s a great thing,” said Platini.

“Anyone could have organised the World Cup (in 2018 and 2022), all the candidates were great, but FIFA perhaps chose to open things up.”