German Football Giants Get Behind Winter World Cup 2022

The German Football League (DFL) and Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have both given their support to FIFA president Sepp Blatter in moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter.

The announcements come after Blatter confirmed Wednesday that he will ask FIFA’s Executive Committee to reschedule the tournament due to the searing temperatures in the country which can reach up to 50°C (122°F) in the summer months.

The president of the European Club Association shrugged off criticisms which have been made by the Premier League, unhealthy | saying that domestic leagues should take the back seat.

“No doubt about it, it is good to hear if FIFA agrees on playing the 2022 World Cup during the winter,” The Express quoted Rummenigge saying.

“A tournament during the summer is not feasible. Of course, you’d then have to come to an understanding about an arrangement for the scheduling of the domestic leagues with the associations, leagues and clubs for that year,” he added.

Although Christian Seifert, DFL chief executive, was one of the dissenting voices about the move in May, the league seems to have changed their opinion on the matter. “The league would only welcome a winter World Cup in Qatar,” DFL executive Andreas Rettig said in Express on Thursday.

The German media, though, have questioned the proposals, with Bild running the headline: “Mister Blatter, re-tender the World Cup!”