No redress to clubs for 2022 World Cup shift

Fifa Secretary General Jerome Valcke said yesterday European football clubs would not receive financial compensation for the 2022 World Cup being moved to November-December.

“There will be no compensation. There are seven years to reorganise,” he told a Doha press conference. “We are in agreement with the clubs.”

European associations, representing major clubs have expressed their unhappiness with the switch recommended by a Fifa task force meeting in Qatar on Tuesday, amid speculation some would seek financial redress for the decision.

The task force made a provisional recommendation for the tournament to start on November 26 and end on December 23, 2022, ensuring an enforced break on the domestic European leagues.

But Valcke said European clubs should accept the potential switch, even though ‘it’s not perfect’. “It is happening once and we are doing nothing that destroys football,” he added.

A final decision will be made by the Fifa executive committee on March 19-20.

Meanwhile, it was also announced the 2021 Confederations Cup will not be held in Qatar. Valcke said the tournament will be played “in an Asian country”, but Qatar had been ruled out because of its climate.

The Secretary General also said there were still problems with conditions for migrant workers building stadiums for the World Cup, but he was “very happy” with steps taken by Qatar.

“It’s clear there are problems and things to be solved,” Valcke said. He added that Qatar was beginning to comply with international standards, which was a “big step”.