Man United are the new Premiership favourites after Chelsea slip up again, this time against Everton

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary Peter Velappan has advised FIFA to move the dates of the 2022 World Cup to January and February.

The World Cup is traditionaly held in June and July, but temperatures in the Qatar can top 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) at that time of year and, as Velappan claimed that cooling down stadiums and training grounds with air conditioners was “not a solution”.

“Qatar is a nice country … but there is no way football can be played in June and July there. No player will ever want to play in these conditions,” he said.

“I would strongly recommend that FIFA reschedule the tournament to January, February. FIFA is obliged to do everything possible to provide the best for the teams and the football fans.”

AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam has played down heat being an issue at the tournament, but Velappan’s agrees with FIFA executive committee member Franz Beckenbauer, who said earlier this month that moving the tournament would be cheaper than investigating solutions to cool down stadiums.

Man United are the new Premiership favourites after Chelsea slip up again, this time against Everton

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