First to report FIFA head wants 2022 soccer World Cup in Qatar played in winter not summer

Reuters sport reporters scored a big beat with comments from Sepp Blatter, chief of soccer governing body FIFA, that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could be staged in January instead of June/July as its successful bid proposal had stated last month. The story on January 8 was immediately picked up globally as the big European leagues in particular are concerned that their scheduling could face huge disruption if the Qatar finals are played at that time. The shift was because of growing alarm that June/July temperatures in the Gulf state can touch 50 degrees Celsius, far too hot for physical exertion, even if the stadium is air-conditioned.