DHAKA: The 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar due to the searing temperatures in the Arabian Peninsula, according to Fifa executive committee member Theo Zwanziger.
The former president of the German Football Association (DFB) is of the opinion that no guarantees can be provided against potential health problems for fans, despite Qatar’s plan to implement cooling technologies at stadiums, making hosting the event an unrealistic proposition.
“I personally think that in the end the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar,” Zwanziger told Sport Bild on Monday.
“Medics say that they cannot accept responsibility with a World Cup taking place under these conditions.
"They [the Qatari organisers] may be able to cool the stadiums but a World Cup does not take place only there.
"Fans from around the world will be coming and travelling in this heat and the first life-threatening case will trigger an investigation by a state prosecutor.
"That is not something that Fifa Exco members want to answer for."
However, one organisation official has declared that Zwanziger does speak for the rest of the committee and refused to comment on the German’s view.
"He is expressing a personal opinion and he explicitly says so," Fifa spokesperson Delia Fischer told Reuters. "We will not comment on a personal opinion."
President of the governing body, Sepp Blatter, previously admitted awarding Qatar the event was a mistake and organisers are now looking at moving the tournament to winter months.
BDST: 2206 HRS, SEP 22, 2014