The CEO of Everton Football Club has said Qatar’s plans for a compact tournament at the 2022 FIFA World Cup will improve performances on the pitch by reducing travel and giving players more time to recover after matches.
Elstone is convinced the unique concept of allowing players to stay in the same hotel from the very first group stage through to the final with zero internal flights needed means better preparation and rest for the world’s best players. That equals better performances for the fans to enjoy.
Speaking to www.sc.qa, Elstone said: “I think that fans and players spend far too long in airplanes or on coaches and anything that reduces that has to have a positive impact on the pitch. Anything that has a positive impact on football on the pitch and can improve performance is to be welcomed. I think that’s fantastic and to be truthful I had never really thought about that.”
Elstone took time out from his hectic schedule running Barclays Premier League side Everton to take part in the two-day ‘Business of Football’ course, run by the Josoor institute – an initiative launched last year designed to foster a new generation of sports industry professionals from across the Middle East.
He added that it was an incredible privilege for Qatar to host the world’s greatest football tournament, saying: “What a great opportunity to have. I hope Qatar feels incredibly privileged to be hosting the World Cup because boy did we want it, boy did everybody else want it.
“It is just the most amazing show in the world, to have that is wonderful. Every young kid in England is incredibly jealous of Qatar and I’m sure Qatar will appreciate how lucky it is to be hosting the World Cup.”
After three years as deputy CEO, Robert Elstone became Everton FC’s CEO in 2008. In the six years since Elstone’s arrival, Everton have broken their transfer fee record five times, most recently with the signing of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea. Now Everton’s pioneering chief is planning a move to a new higher-capacity stadium.
“Since I’ve been at the club, I’ve been above all trying to change culture, or develop a culture, which essentially is putting fans at the heart of everything we do and respecting the community around the club,” Elstone said. “But we must recognize that we’re a football club and everything we do is about success on the field too.”
