FIFA confirms new probe into Qatar 2022 bid

Posted by: Kai Miethig Thursday, 31 January 2013 9:05 AM[UAE] - Bahrain

It is very strange how people complain, who have mostly not been in Summer in the Middle East. The World Cup in Mexico was at more then 3000m with more then 38 and sometimes 40 degrees without A/C !!! I am sure the World Cup 2022 will be the most spectacular and most amazing and most hospitality World Cup ever, if the guests comply to the rules and regulations of the host country. There are amazing F1 parties in Bahrain and UAE. We watched the soccer world cups 2006 and 2010 in Dubai, with lots of parties and fun !! Great hospitality and amazing atmosphere !!
So please weird people, shut up and give them a chance to show the world what they can do. They won the bid and just because of the location you will withdraw it. Ridiculous, they will have the best stadiums, best infrastructure. Did you see the design, amazing. It is a new area, let them make soccer popular there. Why it was held in USA? It will be a great World Cup 2022 in Qatar and I will be there !! For sure !!

Posted by: procan Sunday, 3 February 2013 9:48 PM[UAE] - canada

Mexico summer temps 24 to 28 celsius. The population 115 million not counting expats. Qatar 300 hundred thousand with out foreign workers. World class soccer teams since 1905.

Posted by: Arjun Monday, 28 January 2013 2:22 PM[UAE] - UAE

@Nirsly

I personally want the cup to be hosted here in the middle east...but the concerns are endless. Regarding your comment on Qatar, they can do the same to people coming from outside....my friend they r not building all the infra just for themselves. They cant just deny a visa bcoz they r not in a position to do so at the time of the event. However said n done, if it is done then it spells only doom for the Qatari's...I undergo the same thing when i apply a visa to the US but i dont give a damn if i get the visa or not. USA is not the end of the world right.

Posted by: Bob the Builder in Qatar Monday, 28 January 2013 12:34 PM[UAE] - Qatar

Staging the World Cup in winter is not an option. It's not even in FIFA's hands. The English Premier Leage, Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga and Italian Seria A are the biggest leagues in the world, commanding the highest audiances, and the UEFA Champions League is already a bigger event than the World Cup. There is no way the satellite broadcasters who own the TV rights and not to mention all the other sponsors, would allow any interruption to their programme on account of the World Cup. Platini can say what he wants but he knows the moment he switches to a winter tournament he'll be giving the green light to the formation of breakaway leagues which will take all the advertizing and TV rights revenue with them. The World Cup will become a tournament of U-21's and over 35's which will have little or no attraction. FIFA's only option is to go ahead with a summer tournament in Qatar regardless of the problems posed by the climate at that time of year.

Posted by: Bob the Builder in Qatar Wednesday, 30 January 2013 4:14 PM[UAE] - Qatar

A winter break will interrupt domestic and Champions League for at least 2 months, because the clubs will need to release their players at least 1 month in advance for training with their national squads and then the competition itself runs for a period of 1 month from the opening game to the final. Winter is also not a good time of year for travellers and fans from Europe, the Far East and the States due to Christmas/ New Year congestion and airport shutdowns due to weather conditions which impact flight schedules. All roads lead to the same conclusion: Giving the World Cup to Qatar has been a mistake and should not be allowed to go ahead. On the other hand it is good for construction in the region, and as a construction professional I have much to gain from the billions that will be spent on building big empty stadiums in Qatar

Posted by: Doug Tuesday, 29 January 2013 2:32 PM[UAE] - UAE

@Qatar resident - yes, perhaps it is difficult for footballers in the UK to celebrate Christmas and New Year when they know they've got Boxing Day and and New Year's Day matches. I'm sure we could put a break in the schedule then.

Unfortunately, filling this break with a winter world cup would make it even harder for them to celebrate these things with their family and friends!

Furthermore, given this region goes on and on about how we all need to respect regional traditions and beliefs, the Boxing Day match is in particular a British sporting tradition. Why should we give it up?

Posted by: qatar resident Tuesday, 29 January 2013 10:26 AM[UAE] - Ireland

Winter staging is best for Qatar and Europe. Remember that the majority of the European competitions shut down over Christmas/New Year due to weather. It must be difficult for footballers to celebrate Christmas/New Year in the UK with the plethora of Boxing Day/ New Years Day matches, it is quite easy to insert a few weeks break into the winter schedule with proper planning. TV will have plenty to screen during this time. Even if Summer schedule goes ahead, Qatar has invested Millions in preparing the ground to host it successfully including Air Conditioned fan zones. People responfd to a challenge and Qatar will respond to all challenges whether a Winter or Summer World Cup.

Posted by: Abdul hafeez Sheikh Monday, 28 January 2013 11:37 AM[UAE] - Pakistan Islamabad

This is unfair for Qatar , some people are trying their best to keep Qatar out of The FIFA world cup. I am sure that there is nothing in the investigation . It may also be noted that huge funds have been spent on the preparation work and the world must realize that such an event in the Muslim country like Qatar will contribute harmony among the Muslims and others . Every country has problems in Human rights , even in UK if we go in minor details then such complaint may come into light . We should not forget that Qatar is a country which has contributed a lot for the west and western democracy although they are still at the developing stage of democracy

Posted by: Cynical Sunday, 27 January 2013 11:27 PM[UAE] - uae

Perhaps the powers that be at FIFA finally woke up to one of two realities.

1) Staging it the summer is a near impossibility, for fans, for players. Air conditioned stadiums? Unless every stadium is indoor I don't see how this would be a possibility. Even if it were indoors it would go down as the most environmentally unfriendly games of all times.

2) The true plan was to float out the idea of moving to a winter games, meander for a while and then finally make a decision to do so. Only problem is they didn't expect such a backlash from the professional leagues seeing their seasons interupted.

Long shot possibility they are looking for an excuse to rescind offer.

Right thing to do? Let Qatar keep the games but admit the summer plan was a farce from start to finish and put it in the winter.

Not to give Qatar the benefit of the doubt, but I defy anyone to name an Olympics or World Cup where cash and other incentives didn't change hands.