Fifa calls on Premier League to drop Qatar switch opposition
BRITAIN’S top football official has urged the Premier League to be “sensible” and drop its opposition to switching the 2022 World Cup from summer to winter.
Jim Boyce, vice-president of world governing body Fifa, argues that spectator safety and comfort should be the deciding factor in the long-running row.
“I would appeal to people in the Premier League,” said the Northern Irishman. “Thousands of people, who want to see and enjoy a World Cup, in temperatures exceeding 50C – that would not be comfortable or healthy for all of those people.”
Fifa president Sepp Blatter is in favour of a winter switch and has asked his executive committee to vote on the matter in October.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said he was “worried” that “momentum is shifting” towards a move and a major shake-up of the calendar.