The will-it, won't-it drama regarding Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup seemingly has no end.
FIFA Executive Committee member Theo Zwanziger, from Germany, has said that he believes Qatar will not be allowed to host the illustrious tournament because of the health risks posed to players and fans by holding games in the region's extreme heat.
Both Zwanziger and FIFA said his comments are merely his personal opinion.
"Personally, I believe that the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar in the end," Zwanziger, 69, told Sport Bild. "The doctors say -- and I have demanded to have this registered in the records -- that they can't be held responsible for a summer World Cup held in those conditions."
Tournament organizers have tried to quell the public's worries by saying they will implement air conditioning technology at stadiums, training facilities and fan zones, but Zwanziger said the World Cup is enjoyed by travelers in more than just those places.
"The World Cup not only takes place in the stadiums," Zwanziger said. "Fans from all over the world will be out in the heat. The first life-threatening incident would immediately lead to public prosecution. And no one in the FIFA executive would want to answer for that."
One solution often proposed to solve the issue of heat is moving the World Cup from its usual summer timeframe to the winter, but major European clubs have opposed that idea for fear of its effect on their respective league schedules.
