By Andrew Warshaw
January 9 – The European Professional Football League, which looks after the interests of more than 800 clubs in some 30 countries, remains convinced that no official position has yet been taken over when to stage the 2022 World Cup.
On the very day that the football world reacted with dismay and confusion over Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke’s suggestion in a French radio interview that the Qatar tournament would definitely be switched from summer to November, EPFL officials met with Valcke and Fifa president Sepp Blatter – and were promised no firm dates had been agreed.
The meeting, involving EPFL chairman Frederic Thiriez and his deputy Frank Rutten, appears to have been part of the global consultation process set up by Fifa last October to find the best solution to alleviate fears about playing the tournament in the middle of the oppressively hot Gulf summer.
While Valcke’s comments were interpreted by many as giving carte blanche to a winter World Cup, with the obvious calendar ramifications for broadcasters and sponsors, the EPFL insisted nothing concrete had been decided.
“Sepp Blatter and Jerome Valcke reiterated that nothing new had been decided on the timing of FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar although some articles published may suggest the contrary,” the statement said.
“It has been confirmed that FIFA’s Exco decision made at its meeting of October 3, 2013 lingers.”
“Following this decision, a consultation process involving all stakeholders, including the EPFL, will take place to decide the most appropriate timing of the FIFA World Cup 2022 thus avoiding to make any hasty decision on this matter.”
Thiriez, chairman of the French league, added: “I can easily confirm to you that FIFA’s position as to the timing of the 2022 World Cup as not changed” and that there would be “no hasty decision. In other words, nothing new under the sun.”
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