DHAKA: A Fifa taskforce met on Tuesday in Doha to discuss moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to winter due to scorching summer temperatures in the Gulf state.

A shift to November-December is seen as likely but faces resistance from European clubs who fear major disruption to high-profile championships such as La Liga, Bundesliga and the Premier League.

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation and head of the task force, said, ‘I think the recommendation is towards November/December but there are other options’.

The other options include playing in January and February, he added. FIFA’s executive committee will make a final decision on the dates on March 19 and 20 in Zurich.

Officials from football’s global governing body, top leagues and players’ representatives are attending the crucial meeting.

About 40 delegates were bussed into the Qatar National Convention Centre, in central Doha, as the talks began just after 0700 GMT.

The group went straight into the meeting without talking to waiting journalists, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1543 HRS, FEB 24, 2015