European Club Association Demands FIFA Compensation For Winter World Cup Switch

The European Club Association wants the world body to foot the bill after their decision to move the 2022 finals to November and December.

Europe’s clubs must be compensated for the “difficult and challenging” issues presented by the 2022 World Cup’s switch to winter, Fifa has been told.

A Fifa Task Force has recommended the tournament in Qatar be played in November and December 2022 due to the intense heat of the Arabian summer, meaning domestic bodies across the world will be forced to alter their traditional calendars.

But the European Club Association (ECA), which represents 214 clubs from 53 associations, has reacted by claiming that its members should not be made to cover the costs of accommodating such drastic rescheduling.

“Today's recommendation of the Task Force regarding the Fifa World Cup 2022 in Qatar does not come as a surprise; it was rather expected,” said ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in a statement.

“For the football family the rescheduling of the Fifa World Cup 2022 presents a difficult and challenging task. All match calendars across the world will have to accommodate such tournament in 2022-23, which requires everyone's willingness to compromise.

“However, the European clubs and leagues cannot be expected to bear the costs for such rescheduling. We expect the clubs to be compensated for the damage that a final decision would cause.”

Rummenigge’s statement comes hot on the heels of a stinging broadside from the Dutch football association, which said it would favour the consideration of a change of World Cup venue over an altered domestic calendar.

“The KNVB said at an earlier stage that it is not in favour of moving the 2022 World Cup to the winter,” said a statement on its official website.

“In the opinion of the KNVB, with such a change in design, the entire allocation of the country must be reconsidered.”

Source: Goal