Wenger doesn't want to change world

Arsene Wenger
12 April 2012

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has blasted the proposal to change to a winter World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he "expects" the 2022 World Cup to be in January rather than June when the heat is close to intolerable.

But Wenger said: "It looks like an idea that has come out of nowhere because nobody was told that when the bid was voted for. That is a bit of a surprise and certainly it would mean that the whole world of football has to be reorganised."

He added: "As you know we have a Christmas period which is quite busy here and England would be very happy to play the World Cup in January just after that.

"It would demand a complete reorganisation of the whole world's fixtures and I cannot see that happening.

"Certainly it would create many problems, yes, between clubs and countries and countries and FIFA."

Blatter was speaking in Doha ahead of the opening match of the Asian Cup.

He said: "I expect it will be held in the winter. We have time to look at this question, it is still 11 years away but we must decide the most adequate period for a successful World Cup which means January or the end of the year.

"When you play football you must protect the main people, the players."

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