2022 World Cup stays in Qatar: FIFA chief

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be definitely hosted by Qatar, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino asserted yesterday, before concluding his first official visit to the country following his ascendancy to the game’s highest office in February.“When it comes to the question of whether the World Cup will take place here in 2022 or not, of course the World Cup will take place in Qatar in 2022,” said Infantino, who defeated strong favourite Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifah of Bahrain in a hotly-contested election.Ever since Qatar won the bid to host the quadrennial football showpiece six years ago, local authorities have spent considerable time and energy tackling allegations ranging from the country’s involvement in secret multi-million dollar deals to workers dying almost on a daily basis at construction sites. As sensational those claims were, they were also spectacularly off the mark, but perhaps more hurtful were suggestions – some brazenly racist, some subtly condescending – that any country in the Arab world was simply incapable of pulling off an event of such magnitude because, among other things, the region lacked a genuine sporting culture.Also, in the opinion of many a worthy football connoisseur, any true celebration of the game inevitably involves a punt or a pint which are incompatible with the social and cultural mores of the region. Throw in the issue of gay rights and you have a complete package to berate the country with.On his part, former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter had categorically stated on several occasions that the 2022 World Cup was not going anywhere else, but after his unceremonious exile from the football scene – he was banned by FIFA’s own Ethics Committee and criminal proceedings launched against him by the Swiss attorney general’s office – there remained a lingering doubt that things could still change for the worse for Qatar after the new chief takes office.But at a press conference yesterday, Infantino swatted aside those last remnants of fear by saying that it was time to move on to ensure that FIFA and Qatar collaborate to put together a “great” World Cup in six years’ time.It was music to Qatar’s ears when the Swiss sports administrator, who was secretary-general of UEFA and earlier its legal affairs chief, said the decision taken by FIFA under Blatter to award the event to Qatar could not be reversed come what may. “This is a decision that has been taken six years ago... I think we have to move on,” Infantino argued, when asked if he could say with 100% certainty that the event would not be moved, considering the worldwide outcry of the treatment of workers and the ongoing investigations in Switzerland over alleged corruption surrounding the 2022 vote.Infantino made it amply clear that although there are some challenges that are unique to the region, he had no doubt that the 2022 World Cup would leave behind a lasting legacy that would be cherished by generations of Arabs and Qataris in particular.“Today we are convinced that the real impact of the World Cup in 2022 would be tremendous, absolutely huge,” said Infantino.“This is the first World Cup in the Arab world. As far as FIFA is concerned it will be not only a World Cup of football but a World Cup of inclusion, a World Cup of respect, a World Cup of tolerance and unity. I am convinced about that and the fact that this will be the legacy the World Cup will see.”Infantino said he had been president of FIFA only since February 26 this year and there was little he could do about the past when the world body was rocked by several scandals, mostly concerning with financial corruption and mismanagement that eventually led to Blatter’s eight-year ban from the game.“I cannot change the past, but I can definitely shape the future. I am setting the tone (of things to come) from the top. I want to focus on the future. I will dedicate all my energies for the 2018 (Russia) and the 2022 World Cups.”The FIFA boss also dismissed claims that the winter timing of the 2022 World Cup would severely disrupt European professional league schedules.“The world is not Europe. We are changing the calendar only for the first time. The World Cup has to be played in the most optimum time.”Infantino also said his plans for a 40-team World Cup would not be feasible by 2022. “The FIFA council has to agree to it, and in any case it would be 2026 by the time it materialises.”During his visit to Qatar, Infantino  met with HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. He also visited the Khalifa Stadium building site and watched part of a Workers Cup match.