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Football asks FIFA for early World Cup Christmas present

FIFA have claimed that UEFA and the majority of football confederations want the Qatar 2022 World Cup final to be played on December 23.

A task force put together by world football's governing body recommended on Tuesday that the tournament should be played in late November to late December to avoid the searing heat of the summer in Qatar.

The Premier League and Football Association say a final that close to Christmas will cause havoc with the traditional festive club programme in England, and they will campaign for an earlier date ahead of the decision by FIFA's executive committee in Zurich on March 20.

However, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke told a press conference in Doha: "Most confederations say they want the World Cup to end on the 23rd of December."

Were the date of the final to take place earlier, December 18 remains a possibility - it is Qatar's national day and falls on a Sunday, and would allow the festive club programme to go ahead in England.

Valcke also confirmed that the 2022 World Cup will be four days shorter than the usual 32 as a "concession" to top-flight domestic leagues and clubs.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the European Clubs' Association, has said that clubs would demand financial settlements for the disruption that will be caused to domestic football around the globe, but Valcke has ruled out paying any compensation.

"It's not perfect, we know that - but why are we talking about compensation? It's happening once, we're not destroying football," said Valcke.

"Why should we apologise to the clubs? We have had an agreement with the clubs that they are part of the beneficiaries. It was $40 million (£25.7m) in 2010 and $70m (£45.1m) in 2014.

"We are bringing all our people to enjoy the sporting and financial results of the World Cup.

"I definitely don't feel I have to apologise for the decision made yesterday to confirm that the World Cup will not be played in the summer."

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke speaks during a press conference in Doha © Getty Images

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