Sepp Blatter has vowed that the 2022 World Cup will finish no later than December 18 following a backlash against plans for the final to be played two days before Christmas.
The Fifa president allayed the worst fears of the Football Association and Premier League on Friday by ruling out the tournament in Qatar being played between November 26 and December 23.
Those dates were floated at this week’s final meeting of the task force set up to examine rescheduling the most controversial sporting event ever awarded.
That provoked an angry backlash from the Premier League, which warned English football’s entire Christmas fixture programme could be scrapped as a result.
But speaking ahead of the International Football Association Board meeting in Belfast, Blatter said of a December 23 final: “Not until the 23rd, definitely not. We have to stop at the 18th.”
The Swiss also insisted Fifa’s executive committee would ratify the task force’s recommendation for a November-December tournament.
“No doubt, the Fifa ExCo will make the decision that we will play November-December,” he said.
A finish on December 18 – which is Qatar National Day and also a Sunday – would mean a November 21 start for a World Cup Fifa has already confirmed would last only 28 days, half a week shorter than usual.
Blatter also revealed he had already begun negotiations with the chairman of the European Club Association, who has demanded compensation for the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City over the switch.
Initially ruling out a financial settlement, Blatter added: “This is a problem that we have not now discussed in depth. But, definitely, we are in contact.
“I have been personally in contact with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge before this decision to see how a solution can be found.”
The ECA, Premier League and other European leagues were vocal in their opposition to a winter World Cup.
“They are not so very happy and it’s so good now to make a little bit of noise about Fifa and about the World Cup in Qatar,” Blatter said.
“There are more than six years – particularly seven years – to prepare. And there is a goodwill.
“There will be a solution and I’m sure everybody will be fine.”
Blatter denied the Qatar World Cup debacle had been embarrassing for Fifa.
“This football,” he said. “There are discussions and there are problems. And the problems have to be solved.”
(THE TELEGRAPH)
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