Germany's coach says winter 2022 World Cup to be bad for fans

By Shane McGinley
  • Thursday, 6 January 2011 10:04 AM
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QATAR TOURNAMENT: The coach of the German football team is against moving the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter

QATAR TOURNAMENT: The coach of the German football team is against moving the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter

The coach of the German football team is against moving the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter to avoid the summer heat, claiming the cold weather would be bad for European fans.

"At the World Cup in 2006, the European Championships in 2008 and the World Cup in 2010, there were millions on the streets ... if the World Cup in 2022 takes place in winter, no fan is going to be on the street if it's minus five degrees," Germany coach Joachim Loew said in an interview with the Sport Bild publication.

"I really do not think that can be done because I also see the tournament from another point of view: that of the fans," he added.

Following the awarding of the tournament to Qatar – the first Arab and Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup – concerns were raised about the impact the summer heat would have on players and fans. While authorities have designed air conditioned stadiums, many have called for the tournament to be moved to winter when temperatures are more accommodating.

Loew’s concerns were also backed up by Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, who said a January/February tournament would disrupt the Spanish season, which does not have a winter break.

"I have to stand up for the Spanish league. The World Cup has to be in June, July," he said. "I don't like to break the Spanish league because it's one of the leagues in Europe that continues in January."

Despite concerns in Germany and Spain, the moving of the tournament to the winter of 2022 has received some high profile backing. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said he would not object to a January-February World Cup and UEFA president said Michel Platini is also sympathetic to the idea.

England manager Fabio Capello has backed calls to play the 2022 World Cup during the winter, fearing that Qatar's ferocious heat could force players to spend weeks couped up in hotels if the tournament is held in summer.

"It will not be easy for the players to stay all day in the hotel, you can't run around the hotel," he told reporters at an event in Dubai on Tuesday.

"It's a big problem, not only for the training, you have to spend the time, all the day in the hotel, you can't go around to relax, to do something different.

"When you stay together for long time you need to relax to do something different, not only training or playing," he added. "That's why I think it would be a good idea to play in January or February."

Asian Soccer Federation president Mohammed Bin Hamman, a Qatari, reiterated his country's view that June and July would not be a problem.

"I believe our country has submitted a bid where they would like to organise and host the World Cup in June/July and they have actually presented also the solution for the heat challenges," he said.

"So our country actually is ready and willing to host a very comfortable World Cup in the summer season."

But he declined to write off the winter alternative.

"The month of January is a sort of dead season, most of the leagues in Europe are suspended, they are not playing during that time," he said.

"It's not going to affect practically, the leagues or the clubs if they played the World Cup in January."

 

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Posted by: The Goalie Tuesday, 11 January 2011 10:48 AM[UAE] - UAE

So Qatar have now amended their bid offer to hold the world Cup in the northern winter, is this not a breach of the bid conditions?

The minimum penalty should then be for Qatar to sponsor and pay for large indoor heated viewing "fan zones" in major cities in the northern hemisphere, where the winter weather would not be conducive to the traditional outdoor enjoyment of the World Cup.

For those attending the actual games in Qatar, winter is by far more preferable, however to be fair, the Qatar bid should have stated this fact from the first whistle. To me this is a Red Card!

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Posted by: Dubai Don Monday, 10 January 2011 12:35 PM[UAE] - Dubai

its funny to read all the coments! some people are talking for the sake of talking. As an Englishman, i am happy for the world cup to be played in the winter as we always play badly when it comes to the big tournement as we have the longest season with the most games played!! Look at the likes of Rooney this year, he was totally knackered when he was on the pitch because he plays so many games in the season!! i believe the England team will fare better if the world cup is mid season but that is just my opinion.
I do not agree with the fact that Qatar have changed their bid since winning it they bid for the summer so they should stick with that or the biding process should start again. Again, just my opinion. i do not have a problem with Qatar holding the event as i think it will bring the world together having an Arab country holding the event.

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Posted by: xxx Monday, 10 January 2011 9:36 AM[UAE] - Qatar

What about the UK (and other in Europe) football leagues are they all supposed to stop for 2 months? Isn't this why it is held in summer?

Qatar have proved they can chill staduims to 22 degrees, so what is the issue?

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Posted by: Ferdinand Marcos Monday, 10 January 2011 9:24 AM[UAE] - Singapore

The unqualified comments show that there is lots of work to do before Qatar can host an event like this. At least time is on their side.

To make it clear again: L�w refers to the millions of fans in Europe who celebrate the event in open parties. And its Europe and South America where the viewers - also at public events - watch the games with paid advertising. And that advertising is financing the games. Just give a little respect to the continents that made this sport big and what it is today.

Actually you could play the world cup in the hot and sandy desert with no crowd at all and it would still be a successfull event on TV.

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Posted by: Dubai Sceptic Sunday, 9 January 2011 11:13 AM[UAE] - UAE

I do not think of Qatar as a sporting country. I saw the opening of the Asian Games and the Qatar squad consisted of like 10 people (including officials). I live in UAE and feel and believe that summers are just too hot to enjoy anything in this country. We saw the South Africa World Cup at the football dome (airconditioned) at Barasti. The weather is unbearable to celebrate or watch outdoors. Regarding television rights, the European countries mostly do not charge consumers for watching world cup. They earn money through advertising. Here we paid an arm and a leg to watch poor quality and disrupted world cup coverage. I do not feel the so-called fan zones will be free as in Middle East nothing is free.

Additionally, in January-February, most of the northern hemisphere is cold including Europe, North America, Central & South Asia and Far East. This constitutes a huge population area and they would not be too keen to come out on the street and enjoy world cup in such cold weather.

Posted by: ismail saeed Monday, 10 January 2011 12:39 PM[UAE] - yemen

January and February weather is nice and mild in qatar and the gulf..

Posted by: Happy Dubai Expat Sunday, 9 January 2011 5:15 PM[UAE] - Dubai

To Dubai Sceptic - I'm afraid I couldn't finish reading your comment because I was laughing so much after I got to the end of your second sentence. Anyone who uses the word "like" in spoken English is missing a few neurons.

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