By confirming that soccer’s showpiece tournament would be taking place in Qatar in 2022, Sepp Blatter’s FIFA were hung drawn and quartered by the anyone in the sports news industry in a number of Western countries. The English tabloids were probably most scathing due to all manner of reasons, but it seems like Mr Blatter has now taken heed of one of their complaints about the tournament.
For those reading this he hasn’t taken it from Qatar and given it to England purely because the English threw a right old tantrum. No he’s delivered the masterstroke that most had predicted with the hope that it would never happen.
Due to the searing 40-50 degree heat in the summer in Qatar, Blatter has all but confirmed that the tournament will take place in the winter, probably some time in January of 2022. This will mean rescheduling of leagues across Europe and a whole lot more moaning from the English tabloids.
Currently in Doha, Qatar, Blatter commented, “I expect it will be held in the winter. We have time to look at this question, it is still 11 years away but we must decide the most adequate period for a successful World Cup which means January or the end of the year.”
It does make sense to hold it in the winter but awarding it in first place was a mistake, something that Blatter now seems to be acknowledging to a certain extent. He’s still starring in his own episode of Punk’d though, with England on the end of most of his pranks. Although I’m not too sure why the England team itself should be getting so annoyed. Anyone that saw their performances this summer will probably agree that they aren’t exactly a shoe in for a place at the tournament.
