Thursday, 25th July, 2013
FIFA executive committee member and former German Football Association president Theo Zwanziger has urged a reconsideration of the "blatant mistake" to let Qatar host the 2022 World Cup.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter had recently revealed there would be a discussion on shifting the timing of the tournament to the winter months, a move which Zwanziger says threatens the very foundations of domestic leagues.
The 2010 decision to award Qatar the World Cup was met with surprise from many areas of the football fraternity, with summer temperatures in the gulf nation a particular point of concern.
Blatter attempted to appease opponents by promising an executive-committee meeting on the issue, but Zwanziger does not want to wait until it is too late to change anything.
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On the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar, Zwanziger was quoted by Reuters as saying: "It was a blatant mistake.
"And 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."
Many countries are, unsurprisingly, against the idea of a winter World Cup, which would mean a massive upheaval in league scheduling.
While some nations do have a winter break, it is acceptably not enough time for players to squeeze in a major tournament, and Zwanziger has not pulled any punches in his disapproval.
"Changing the World Cup to the winter is going deep into the structures of not only European national federations but also of amateur football in Germany", he added.
"A change in playing schedules not only affects the Bundesliga but also continues affecting lower divisions due to the link with promotion and relegation.
"The game’s pyramid is in danger and so is the unity of German football."
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