ZURICH (AP) — An Asian Football Confederation presidential candidate says European soccer leaders should ask FIFA to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to cooler winter months.
Yousuf al-Serkal tells The Associated Press that “people in charge of European clubs” and “major football federations” should work with FIFA about the switch, “and not wait for the person to be elected at AFC” to provoke debate.
Al-Serkal, who met FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Wednesday, says a decision “has to be taken sooner rather than later” as “players will not perform at the best level” in the desert heat in June and July.
The United Arab Emirates Football Association president is competing against Sheik Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain and Worawi Makudi of Thailand in the May 2 election.
