FIFA President Sepp Blatter today sensationally revealed Qatar could lose the right to host the 2022 World Cup due to concerns over soaring summer temperatures, according to
The Sun. Temperatures in the Arab state rise above 50 degrees in the summer months and UEFA President Michel Platini has led somewhat unprecedented calls for the tournament to be switched to winter, with health concerns of fans and players mounting. The decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup came as a huge surprise in the footballing world and it has always been an unpopular decision. A desert nation smaller than Connecticut with shallow soccer roots, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States were all seemingly preferred destinations for the world's most popular sporting event when the vote was held back in December 2010. Though the Arab state astonishingly beat off all competition, they could now face another stern test in holding on to their right to host. If the Arabs request for the 2022 World Cup to be switched to winter, it could bring a legal challenge from one or all of the aforementioned defeated competition. Blatter explained:
For there to be a change to winter it is necessary that Qatar ask for it. They have not done so yet. And they know if they do they risk another of the 2022 candidates bringing a challenge before FIFA and the vote would have to be repeated.
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