Uefa president Michel Platini has told English critics of his proposal to move the Qatar World Cup in 2022 to the winter to be more flexible. The event's timing has been debated as Qatar's summers can be as hot as 50C. Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has argued for a switch from June but the Premier League opposes the plan. "I will say something to the English. We respect your calendar for 150 years - for one month in 150 years you can change," Platini, 58, said. "I played in winter all my life, in the snow, in the rain, because of your calendar. You can change it for one month - I don't ask any more. "In Qatar there is nobody there in June, they are all in Europe, it's 50C and you can do nothing. I have said that from the beginning and I was always transparent about that because I think it is time we take the World Cup to an Arabic country." Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore was adamant in his opposition when asked about it by BBC Sport this month, saying "moving it to the winter is the wrong way to go". But there has been a less consistent message from key members of the FA. Although Dyke hoped his own view that a summer tournament is "impossible" was shared by the rest of the organisation, predecessor David Bernstein told the BBC there should be a "rebidding process" after earlier suggesting a switch would be "fundamentally flawed". To allay health fears over the high temperatures, officials from Qatar have said they intend to use air-conditioned stadiums and are researching the potential to create artificial clouds. Platini will gauge the views of the European associations on the issue at a meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in September. He hinted he would prefer to move the 2022 World Cup to January rather than November or December, so it did not disrupt any European club competitions. The Frenchman also called for reform of the current transfer system. "I think transfers are a robbery," he said. "It's an opportunity for a lot of people to make a lot of money." He acknowledged the desire from clubs to close the summer transfer window before the league season begins. This year for British teams, the market is open from the 1 July to 2 September. He said: "I agree it is too long, but the whole world is involved and don't play at the same time as we do. The clubs also want to have transfers finished before the start of their competition." http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23896436 This really doesn't show UEFA in a good light. Nothing has changed in Qatar since they were awarded the World Cup, it was just as hot in their summer then as it is now. Could it be that now they've spent their bribes they've suddenly released how impractical it always was?
Everybody should just boycott all of these FIFA tournaments. Don't give these people any more money. The likes of Platini and Blatter, they make me sick. Corrupt to the core.
to be honest, anything that puts the wind up the pompous arses that run the PL gets the thumbs up from me no matter how ludicrous.
More than that, Id like to see us reclaim the game and have the home nations start an alternative game. Trouble is that would mean our FAs are in charge.
I would say they will be a break up of the game within the next 20 years and a second alternative organisation formed to run world football. I think most reasonable people are sick to the back teeth of Blatter and all his other cronies. Giving the World Cups to Russia and Qatar were the final straw at the expense of England and Australia. The closer we get to these two world cups, the more people will realise they made a grave mistake. Who has the balls to start a new organisation? I reckon we should start a petition to elect Boris Johnston as the Head of the breakaway organisation. I wouldn't necessarily agree with his politics but you need a no nonsense type of fella. Who do you reckon?
