The FIFA executive committee convened in Brazil on Wednesday and Thursday in Costa do Sauipe (north-east) before the draw for the groups for the final phase of the 2014 World Cup, expected on Friday. The 2022 World Cup, set to be held in Qatar, was a focal point of discussions.
The main issue surrounding the Qatar World Cup is the potential change of the tournament’s schedule to winter to avoid the extreme heat of the Gulf summer, reaching nearly 50 degrees Celsius. A consultation involving players, clubs, leagues, federations, broadcasters, sponsors, and media has been initiated, and a final decision is expected after the Brazilian World Cup. FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa are set to present a roadmap on this matter during the executive committee meetings.
The scheduling debate is anticipated to be contentious, with conflicting positions within the football community. FIFA President Joseph Blatter suggested a November-December schedule for the 2022 World Cup to avoid direct competition with the Winter Olympic Games.
Another significant topic on the executive committee’s agenda is the conditions of workers at the future competition’s stadiums. FIFA President Blatter previously criticized the situation, calling it “unacceptable,” but expressed confidence that Qatar was taking the matter seriously. FIFA is expecting concrete measures from Qatar before its next executive committee meeting in March 2014.
The controversies surrounding workers’ rights in Qatar have raised concerns about the image of the competition. Reports of worker deaths and poor conditions on construction sites have drawn attention, with organizations like Amnesty International denouncing safety and hygiene issues. Qatar has responded by deeming the criticism “exaggerated,” hiring a foreign law firm to address accusations, and promising to uphold workers’ rights on World Cup sites. The European Parliament has expressed concerns about long working hours, dangerous conditions, non-payment of salaries, confiscation of passports, and overcrowded living conditions for workers in Qatar.
