FIFA President Sepp Blatter has suggested a switch to November and December is almost inevitable to avoid the searing summer heat in the Gulf country.

Another possibility is to stage the tournament in January and February.

But, earlier this week, Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the administrator who led the FIFA Inspection Group that evaluated the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, claimed this would be impossible because it would mean a clash with European football leagues, as well as with the Winter Olympics and Super Bowl in the United States

Mayne-Nicholls suggested the tournament ought to be moved to May and June, with games taking place after midnight when the heat is less intense.

It is believed the European Club Association (ECA), the representative body made up of 214 European football clubs, discussed May 2022 as a potential date during a Board meeting in London earlier this month.

When contacted by insidethegames, an ECA spokesman said an official proposal will be presented to FIFA at a taskforce meeting on November 3. 

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has suggested moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to November and December ©Getty Images



But the EPFL are of the view that the competition should be staged in June and July to prevent disruption to its members.

"The EPFL considers that any re-scheduling of the World Cup would be damaging the domestic competitions and Leagues' business and sporting interests," said EPFL chairman Frédéric Thiriez, at the Association's General Assembly in Stockholm.

Qatar 2022's organisers have always insisted they can play host in the summer, pointing to their plan to use air-cooling technology to lower temperatures within stadiums and fan zones.

The taskforce set up by FIFA to decide on the best date for the competition features a variety of stakeholders including clubs, leagues and player representatives, and is due to meet again next month before a final decision next year.

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation, is heading this taskforce alongside FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.

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