Asian body urges FIFA to reschedule 2022 World Cup

Asian body urges FIFA to reschedule 2022 World Cup

Published Dec. 9, 2010 4:29 a.m. ET

The Asian Football Confederation has urged FIFA to reschedule the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter months of January or February to avoid the desert state's sweltering heat.

The AFC General Secretary Peter Velappan said Thursday that cooling down stadiums and training grounds with air conditioners was ''not a solution'' and warned that some European teams may boycott the World Cup due to the heat.

Qatar's summer temperature can top 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

Velappan's comments echoed those by FIFA executive committee member Franz Beckenbauer, who earlier this month suggested making a one-time change to the European league schedules to allow the Qatar games to be played in winter.

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