Beckenbauer: Play Qatar World Cup in January: Franz Beckenbauer, the former German star mentioned as a future FIFA president, suggests that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar be played in January because of heat concerns. "In January and February, temperatures are a comfortable 25 degrees," he said, referring to the Celsius temperature (77 degrees Fahrenheit). "It would also be a viable alternative to the enormous expenses involved in setting up air-conditioning for the stadiums and the fan zones."
Exactly - how are FIFA supposed to skim off the top of common sense? Bloody pragmatic Germans.
posted by JJ at 03:29 PM on December 04, 2010
Great idea except plenty of major clubs would have a fit because of injuries and fatigue to their top players in the middle of the European season. The African Cup of Nations already causes some minor problems in that regard. The relationships between national federations and big clubs are already kind of prickly because of all the qualifiers and friendlies. There would have to be a wholesale change to the club season schedule. Of course they have over a decade to figure that out.
posted by sbacharach at 05:07 PM on December 04, 2010
"Sorry, that makes sense and we'll have none of that! Next!"
-- Sepp Blather, FIFA Head Moron
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:28 PM on December 04, 2010