A member of FIFA’s executive committee has slammed the decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, shortly after president Sepp Blatter admitted giving the 2014 version to Brazil may have been a mistake.
FIFA official Theo Zwanziger says allowing the Arab nation to host a World Cup was a “blatant mistake” on their behalf, only days after Blatter made his confession.
“It was a blatant mistake,” he told Sportbild. “If the decision was really a mistake it should be lifted and should not become an even bigger burden for those who are not involved by changing it to the winter.”
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has suggested that the tournament should be moved to the winter to avoid the soaring temperatures in the Middle East, but the former German Football Association chief feels this would only hamper the domestic season across Europe.
“Changing the World Cup to the winter is going deep into the structures of European national federations and also amateur football in Germany,” he added.
“A change in playing schedules does not only affect the Bundesliga but continues affecting lower divisions due to the link with promotion and relegation. The game pyramid is in danger and so is the unity of German football.”
This is a series of public confessions which has seen problems occurr during the preparations for each World Cup, starting with issues in Brazil ahead of 2014.
