World Cup 2022 in Qatar
The World Cup 2022 has been given to Qatar – a highly controversial decision. Now, the tournament might take place in winter.
FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar - Sepp Blatter © Flickr / AsianFC
This is the first time a football world cup is taking place in the middle east. Some supporters say that this is a great sign towards unity. This could show the world that sport transcends problems with politics and religion. Others criticize the decision to be money orientated.
World Cup 2022 in winter time
FIFA president Sepp Blatter expects the World Cup 2022 in Qatar to be held in winter time. Due to high temperatures in the summer and to protect the players, he wants to move the tournament to January 2022. With only 1.5 million people living in the emirate and the lack of a professional league, it is hard to find sensible reasons for a football world cup to be held in Qatar.
Criticism and controversy
Despite all the criticism, Blatter is optimistic about social and religious differences being overcome by football and insists that the decision had no financial motivation. Sepp Blatter was asked, if gay supporters have to face problems in an Islamic country, where homosexuality is illegal. His advice was to refrain from sexual activities during World Cup 2022. This added to the controversy.
Critics say that the small country, high temperatures and the inexperienced national team are reasons enough to award the World Cup to another country. Qatar lacks night clubs, stadiums and the drinking of alcohol in public places is forbidden. Critics were much more in favor of China, which now has to wait at least until 2034.
Sepp Blatter’s high hopes
Further on, Qatar is under close watch because of its politics concerning sexual orientation. Homosexuality can be punished with five years in prison and there is a rather conservative stance on women. It should be in question if Qatar is the right place for the tournament.
Despite these problems, Sepp Blatter has high hopes for this cup. He declared that football knows no boundaries and that he wishes to repeat the same social impact like the one on South Africa. Great expectations await the smallest and first Arabic country to host a World Cup but there is still eleven years to introduce changes in Doha, the capital of Qatar.