LONDON (AP) — The Bundesliga’s top official has urged FIFA to listen to soccer clubs before moving the 2022 World Cup to winter and disrupting domestic schedules.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he expects the Qatar tournament to be staged in early 2022 because of concerns about the summer heat in the desert nation.
While moving the event to a cooler time of year would be better for players’ health, it would force changes to league schedules across Europe before and after the tournament, which usually starts in June.
Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert tells The Associated Press that “clubs who pay players and have the whole financial risk need to discuss it.”
Qatar would only move the event if FIFA makes a formal request to the organizing committee.
