A top FIFA executive member who has been a critic of the Qatar World Cup said Friday that everyone must get on with making the event work now the dates have been agreed.
Jim Boyce, Britain’s FIFA vice president, said the 2022 World Cup would be a one-off winter tournament.
“It’s one year out of the calendar and I think if everyone works together for one year we can work it out to make sure everyone is satisfied,” Boyce told reporters on the sidelines of a FIFA executive committee meeting.
After months of debate, the FIFA executive decided on Thursday that the 2022 World Cup would be on December 18 — Qatar’s national day — and the tournament would probably be reduced by four days to 28 days.
European clubs are demanding compensation for the disruption to their wealthy domestic leagues. But UEFA is now behind the proposal.
“There is always going to be someone who will complain,” said Boyce who has in the past said there should be a revote for the 2022 World Cup if corruption claims were proved and who spoke strongly against a summer World Cup in the Gulf state.
Boyce said there were clear benefits for a winter World Cup.
“All the spectators who are going to Qatar will have a wonderful time from a climate point of view.
“And the players could be fresher than they have ever been for a World Cup — so let’s get on with it,” declared the FIFA vice president.