Qatar

Theo Zwanziger, an outgoing member of Fifa’s Executive Committee, has called on football’s governing body to strip Qatar of the 2022 World Cup in order to rectify its mistake of awarding the tournament to the country.

London-based architectural and design firm Foster + Partners has been appointed as the design architect of Lusail Stadium, the proposed centrepiece of Qatar’s staging of the 2022 Fifa World Cup national team football tournament.

European Club Association (ECA) chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said he is confident a solution can be found concerning the conflict between Fifa and Europe’s top clubs over the staging of the 2022 World Cup.

The Qatar International Equestrian Committee is to join forces with horse racing organisations in the UK and France to launch a lucrative new three-race series.

Fifa has hit back at the grievances of European football stakeholders regarding the proposed staging of the 2022 World Cup in November-December, with secretary general Jerome Valcke maintaining that European clubs will not be compensated for the disruption the move will cause to their seasons.

The European Club Association (ECA) and European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) have hit out at Fifa’s decision to recommend a November-December slot for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup, with the former body calling for compensation for its clubs and the latter maintaining the move will cause “great damage” to the domestic game.

World football’s governing body Fifa has confirmed a November/December window will be recommended as the “most viable period” for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup, with a shorter tournament on the cards.

Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) president Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiyah has said the nation is close to agreeing a deal to host a Formula One race.

The next three editions of the International Modern Pentathlon Union’s (UIPM) Champion of Champions event will take place in Qatar, it was announced today (Friday).

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has reiterated that the 2022 Fifa World Cup should not be moved to clash with the winter Olympic Games, stating such a decision would result in a “lose-lose situation.”

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has said Qatar’s 2022 Fifa World Cup looks set to be played in November and December.

Qatar will decide whether it will bid for the 2024 Olympic Games before September, with Qatar Olympic Committee chief executive and secretary general, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, stating its future Games bidding strategy is yet to be determined.

Qatar’s plans to secure a Formula One race have been boosted with the approval of the development of a new street circuit in the city of Lusail, according to the Autosport website.

The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) has announced an alteration to the calendar for its 2015 Grand Prix Series, with Doha in Qatar replacing the Chinese city of Suzhou on the schedule.

The European Club Association (ECA) and European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) have joined forces to put forward a staging period of May 5 to June 4 for Qatar’s 2022 Fifa World Cup, arguing that the model would avoid a “brutal split” of domestic football caused by a winter tournament.

Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has rejected speculation concerning his future at the helm of the motor racing series and has revealed any ambitions from Qatar to join the calendar are likely to be curtailed by the terms of the sport’s existing race contract with Bahrain.