Saturday 8 June 2013

FA CHIEF BERNSTEIN ATTACKS FIFA


ABOVE: David Bernstein has criticised FIFA and UEFA over the problems of Qatar hosting the World Cup
“
My personal view is that it would be a case of a false prospectus if the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was switched to the winter.
”
Outgoing FA chairman David Bernstein
8th June 2013

By Duncan Wright

FA CHAIRMAN David Bernstein has launched a stinging attack on FIFA and UEFA officials plotting to move the 2022 World Cup to the winter.

There is a growing feeling the Finals in Qatar will be switched from June to December/January because it's too hot in the summer.

That would cause massive disruption to European leagues.

And the FA chairman said Qatar won the vote on the basis of it being played in June.

Bernstein hit out after UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino called for a winter World Cup and also questioned why European leagues did not play in the summer.

Bernstein said: "My personal view is that it would be a case of a false prospectus if the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was switched to the winter.

"It is a serious matter bidding for the World Cup and countries, including ourselves, spent huge amounts of money bidding.

"The bid was for the World Cup to be played in June and July and for it then to be moved to the winter would be fundamentally flawed. If people want it in the winter they should bid for it on that basis.

"To try and get it through the back door like this is absolutely flawed."

In terms of domestic leagues playing in the summer, Bernstein is equally opposed.

He added: "I personally believe that the domestic league season should remain more or less the way it is now.

"I think football is a winter game, that the public greatly enjoy their football through the winter. We should think carefully before taking football away from the public in winter."

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