Qatar

The hottest topic on the international sporting agenda in recent weeks has been the proposal of staging the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in winter. Sports lawyer Kevin Carpenter explores the possible legal and economic implications for a number of interested stakeholders.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has revealed that Qatar will remain host of the 2022 World Cup, however no decision will be made on its dates until the body consults the event’s main stakeholders.

The Qatar 2022 supreme committee has partnered with the Qatar National Food Security Programme (QNFSP) in a bid to use the cooling technology planned for the country’s staging of the FIFA World Cup to develop food and water security solutions.

Newly-elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach believes switching Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup to a winter tournament will not affect the winter Olympics staged in the same year.

FIFA World Cup 2022 host Qatar has maintained that is committed to delivering the cooling technology it promised for its staging of the event, regardless of whether it remains in its current calendar slot or is switched to a winter event.

UEFA president Michel Platini has revealed that FIFA is not likely to make a decision on scheduling a winter date for its 2022 World Cup in Qatar at its upcoming meeting.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is confident that FIFA will discuss possible dates for its 2022 Qatar World Cup before making a final decision, in order to avoid clashing with the winter Olympics.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has claimed that European politicians put pressure on FIFA members to vote for Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

FIFA has rejected Football Federation Australia (FFA)’s calls for financial compensation should Qatar’s 2022 World Cup be moved to winter.

FIFA’s medical committee chairman Michel D’Hooghe has recommended for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup be moved to the winter when the body’s executive committee meets to discuss the issue next month.

Hassan Al Thawadi, Qatar’s secretary-general for its FIFA 2022 World Cup organising committee, has insisted that its hosting rights for the tournament was won within the rules of bidding.

The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) has called on FIFA to avoid making a “hasty decision” for the organisation of the 2022 World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter expects its executive committee of football’s global governing body to approve shifting the 2022 World Cup from its traditional summer slot.

Qatar has defended its awarding of the FIFA World Cup in 2022, stating that it is capable of delivering the event in summer or winter.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter will request FIFA’s executive committee to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter.

Qatar has been named hosts of the 2015 World Boxing Championships, beating a bid from Bangkok.