11 Sep 2013

Rummenigge says clubs would be open to winter World Cup in Qatar

6:06 am on 11 September 2013

Europe's leading clubs have stated that they are "open" to the possibility of a winter World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

Fifa chief Sepp Blatter has called for the tournament to be moved because of concern over how players would cope in summer temperatures of 40 degrees and above.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of the European Club Association, which represents the top teams, says it's probably better to play it in winter.

He says they're not in a hurry, there are still nine years to go.

Since Qatar won the right to host the World Cup in 2010, the practicalities of staging a summer competition in the Middle East have been debated.

English FA chairman Greg Dyke has said a summer World Cup in Qatar would be impossible, while the Premier League ceo Richard Scudamore says a winter World Cup would cause chaos for the League.