UEFA president Michel Platini speaks during a press presentation of the new UEFA Club licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations, at the European governing body headquarters on January 11, 2011 in Nyon. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
Jan 12 (KATAKAMI / VOA) — The president of European football’s governing body says it is possible that 2022 World Cup bid winner Qatar could share the tournament hosting duties with neighboring countries in the Gulf region.
Michel Platini , who is also a FIFA vice president, said Wednesday he thinks it could be a “World Cup of the Gulf.”
Platini has previously said he favors the idea of moving the 2022 World Cup to the winter months to avoid Qatar’s scorching summer heat. FIFA president Sepp Blatter agrees, and has said he expects the event to be staged in early 2022.
Many favor the idea of playing in cooler weather, but others have pointed out that adjusting international league schedules would be a “logistical nightmare.”
Qatar won its bid to host the 2022 World Cup in a controversial vote last month, beating strong technical bids from the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea. (*)
