Not quite a done deal but looks most likely the world cup in Qatar will be held in Nov and Dec with the final on Dec 23rd. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...r-final-played-December-23-Christmas-Day.html
November and December 2022 sounds like the best of a bad idea. Thankfully it is almost 7 years away so no real concern atm. For countries that dont want to go then the answer is simple........ Dont qualify. Simples.
How the hell are they going to work that - they'd have to pause the domestic seasons at some point in October, and they would not probably return until mid-Jan. This delays our season (including the busy Christmas period) probably by 10 weeks meaning the season would run until Jul/Aug - but the next season would start again in August!! That's not even to mention all the friendlies the different nations would want which would further disrupt the season. I supposed you could cut one of the cup competitions to free up some time, but that's not fair on the lower league teams. I can see a lot of big clubs pushing their players to withdraw their name from selection, and considering that's where they earn their money they'd probably agree.
Doubt it’d happen, but I’d advocate a boycott and a rival ‘break-away’ World Cup being held in a suitable country in the summer of 2022. If the major European powers stick together on this, they could once-and-for-all rebut FIFA and their intransigence.
I'd be happy if the FA told them to **** off. But given how the FA failed to punish Ashley Barnes, we know they have no spine.
Just a little of track but they are still shafting the workers who are doing all the building works. Not getting paid, bad living conditions, enable to leave etc.. They will drag it out till all the work is done and then just kick all the workers out.
They couldn't have played it in the summer. People would have died. This proposal is the most workable one but the fact remains that it shouldn't have been awarded to Qatar in the first place. It is a nonsense and a shambles.
You mix it there, the most workable solution is to rescind the award as the original proposal cannot be fulfilled. More political bollocks.
Having read Gary Neville's comments I am beginning to think the whole thing is a done deal and that (secretly) the PL might not be too upset to have this whopping opportunity to rearrange the English football calendar to their own benefit and agenda. This whole debate and the options it will force forward is going to be interesting - I just hope the FA keep a strong grasp on the interests of lower league, grassroots football.
I honestly dont see why everyone is against it other than "we've always done it this way, how dare you change it cos it doesnt suit us for once (stamps feet, spits dummy)". It's a WORLD cup. it's not a Europe or Americas Cup. The tournament should be staged in countries right around the world rather than the usual few destinations. And a winter world cup will be ****ing brilliant. November and December are ****, it's dark at 3.45pm, you're in all night and it gets you out of ****e Christmas shopping and tv repeats. Settling down for a full night in front of the tv to watch Ghana vs Paraguay is much more appealing in winter than on a balmy summer's night, in the summer there's a million things I'd rather do than be stuck in the house watching matches on tv. In an ideal world they'll extend the domestic season to allow for it and that would mean summer football. How can anybody possibly say they would rather be in the stadium on a freezing cold ****ing December night in pitch black when they can instead watch in late May with glorious sunshine and the chance to have beers outside pre and post match? I hope it sets a precedent and now the world cup hosts are alternated between Europe, the Americas and everywhere else so we know every third tournament it will be somewhere new and exciting.
Alas all the European FA's (UEFA) feed from the same trough as FIFA. They'll make a few noises about the inconvenience then skunk off to Geneva to spend their ill-gotten gains. It will disrupt at least 3 seasons to prepare for the enforced break of 6-7 weeks, maybe more. I want to see some calculations how they're going to do it. But this is FIFA so expect a rushed, botched report in 2020 that has to pander to all the vested interests. The only hope is a new FIFA President who will come out and say the process to award 2022 to Qatar was flawed and invite new bids. Don't hold your breath.
It could be the start of a move to summer football in Europe. That'd save the problems of fixtures affected by the weather and wearing shorts in snow. Hot countries can just play at midnight.
I get the feeling you're half joking but summer football and 3 months off from Nov to Jan would be ****ing brilliant.