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It's A Winter World Cup! FIFA Exec Rules Out Summer Tournament In Qatar 2022

It's A Winter World Cup! Or is it?
The Huffington Post UK
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UPDATE: FIFA comments, 12.45pm, 8 January 2014

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not be held in the summer, according to a FIFA executive.

Secretary-general Jerome Valcke made the revelation during an interview with Radio France.

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FIFA said that Jerome Valcke was giving his opinion

"The dates for the World Cup (in Qatar) will not be June-July," he said, adding: "To be honest, I think it will be held between 15 November and 15 January at the latest.

"If you play between 15 November and the end of December that's the time when the weather conditions are best, when you can play in temperatures equivalent to a warm spring season in Europe, averaging 25 degrees. therefore it's perfect for football."

However, Valcke's statement is likely to need ratification by FIFA's executive committee and was met with 'total surprise' by Britain's FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce while football's governing body later issued a statement, clarifying Valcke's comments.

He confirmed the decision had to be taken by the executive committee, adding: "As I understand it all the stakeholders will have discussions and report back to the executive committee of FIFA and no final decision will be made on when the 2022 World Cup would be played until December 2014 or March 2015.

"As far as I am concerned that remains the situation and there has been nothing said to me to make that any different."

FIFA's statement said:

"Secretary General Jerome Valcke explained today in the Radio France interview - as he had already mentioned previously - that in his view the 2022 FIFA World Cup must take place in winter and the best possible time frame would be 15 November to 15 January.

"However, the precise event date is still subject to an ongoing consultation process which involves all main event stakeholders, including both the international football community (FIFA, confederations, member associations, leagues, clubs, players) as well as FIFA's commercial partners (commercial affiliates and media rights licensees).

"As the event will not be played until eight years' time the consultation process will not be rushed and will be given the necessary time to consider all of the elements relevant for a decision.

"Consequently, no decision will be taken before the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil as agreed by the FIFA executive committee."

Qatar 2022
FIFA 2022 World Cup Bid In Doha(01 of12)
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DOHA, QATAR - UNDATED: In this handout image supplied by Qatar 2022 The Doha Port stadium is pictured in this artists impression as Qatar 2022 World Cup bid unveils it's stadiums on September 16, 2010 in Doha, Qatar. The architecture of the stadium references its location by creating a shape reminiscent of a marine animal. (Photo by Qatar 2022 via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FIFA 2022 World Cup Bid In Doha(02 of12)
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DOHA, QATAR - UNDATED: In this handout image supplied by Qatar 2022 The Al-Shamal stadium is pictured in this artists impression as Qatar 2022 World Cup bid unveils it's stadiums on September 16, 2010 in Doha, Qatar. It's shape was derived from the traditional 'dhow', the local fishing boats of the Arabian Gulf. (Photo by Qatar 2022 via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FIFA 2022 World Cup Bid In Doha(03 of12)
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DOHA, QATAR - UNDATED: In this handout image supplied by Qatar 2022 The Qatar University stadium is pictured in this artists impression as Qatar 2022 World Cup bid unveils it's stadiums on September 16, 2010 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Qatar 2022 via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FIFA 2022 World Cup Bid In Doha(04 of12)
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DOHA, QATAR - UNDATED: In this handout image supplied by Qatar 2022 The Al-Gharafa stadium is pictured in this artists impression as Qatar 2022 World Cup bid unveils it's stadiums on September 16, 2010 in Doha, Qatar. The facade will be made up of the colours of the flags of all countries that have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to symbolise football and the friendship, respect and understanding. (Photo by Qatar 2022 via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - SEPTEMBER 16: The FIFA inspection group take off in front of the Aspire Tower and the Khalifa Stadium on board the Royal helicopter for an aerial inspection of proposed World Cup sites at the Aspire sports complex on September 16, 2010 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images for Qatar 2022) (credit:Getty Images)
FIFA 2022 World Cup Bid In Doha(06 of12)
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DOHA, QATAR - SEPTEMBER 16: The FIFA inspection group fly over the Khalifa Stadium on board the Royal helicopter for an aerial inspection of proposed World Cup sites at the Aspire sports complex on September 16, 2010 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images for Qatar 2022) (credit:Getty Images)
FIFA 2022 World Cup Bid In Doha(07 of12)
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DOHA, QATAR - UNDATED: In this handout image supplied by Qatar 2022 The Al-Khor stadium is pictured in this artists impression as Qatar 2022 World Cup bid unveils it's stadiums on September 16, 2010 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Qatar 2022 via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - UNDATED: In this handout image supplied by Qatar 2022 The Al-Wakrah stadium complex is pictured in this artists impression as Qatar 2022 World Cup bid unveils it's stadiums on September 16, 2010 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Qatar 2022 via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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AL WAKRAH, QATAR: In this artist's illustration provided by Qatar 2022/HH Vision, an aerial view is displayed of a 45,000 capacity stadium located in Al Wakrah in the south of Qatar, set in a park setting that includes a themed swimming pool, spa zone, spots facilities and shopping mall. The main stadium entrance will face onto a beautiful plaza that will create a sense of one large extended park. Qatar 2022 announced details of a number of its stadia, and the world-first, carbon-neutral technology it will use to cool stadiums, fan fests/zones and training sites if Qatar is chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, paving the way for the first ever cooled outdoor global sporting event. Qatar aims to bring the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time in the history of the tournament. FIFA's Executive Committee will vote on the locations of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals on December 2, 2010, in Zurich, Switzerland. (Illustration by Qatar 2022/HH Vision via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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AL SHAMAL, QATAR: In this artist's illustration provided by Qatar 2022/HH Vision, an aerial view is displayed of a 45,120 capacity stadium located in Al-Shamal in the north of Qatar, on the edge of the Arabian Gulf. The stadium's bowl shape design is derived from the 'traditional dhows', the local fishing boats of the Gulf. Around 10% of spectators for Al-Shamal are expected to arrive via the Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge, which will be the longest free-standing bridge in the world. Qatar 2022 announced details of a number of its stadia, and the world-first, carbon-neutral technology it will use to cool stadiums, fan fests/zones and training sites if Qatar is chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, paving the way for the first ever cooled outdoor global sporting event. Qatar aims to bring the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time in the history of the tournament. FIFA's Executive Committee will vote on the locations of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals on December 2, 2010, in Zurich, Switzerland. (Illustration by Qatar 2022/HH Vision via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR - UNDATED: In this handout image supplied by Qatar 2022 The Umm Slal stadium is pictured in this artists impression as Qatar 2022 World Cup bid unveils it's stadiums on September 16, 2010 in Doha, Qatar. The architectural concept takes it's inspiration from a nearby beautiful old fort. (Photo by Qatar 2022 via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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AL GHARAFA, QATAR: In this artist's illustration provided by Qatar 2022/HH Vision, an aerial view is displayed of Al Gharafa stadium, located close to Doha, its current capacity will also double to 44,740 via a modular upper tier stand if Qatar wins the right to stage the FIFA World Cup in 2022. The stadium facade will be made up of the colours of all the countries qualifying for Qatar 2022, symbolising the friendship, mutual tolerance and respect of the FIFA World Cup and Qatar. Qatar 2022 announced details of a number of its stadia, and the world-first, carbon-neutral technology it will use to cool stadiums, fan fests/zones and training sites if Qatar is chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, paving the way for the first ever cooled outdoor global sporting event. Qatar aims to bring the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time in the history of the tournament. FIFA's Executive Committee will vote on the locations of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals on December 2, 2010, in Zurich, Switzerland (Illustration by Qatar 2022/HH Vision via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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