Hold Qatar World Cup in April 2022: Bayern chief

(MENAFN- Arab Times) LONDON Oct 29 (Agencies): Leading European clubs want FIFA to hold the Qatar World Cup in April 2022 Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a British newspaper interview published on Wednesday. A task force set up by world governing body FIFA will meet in Zurich next week to investigate the feasibility of moving the tournament from its traditional mid-year slot amid fears about soaring summer temperatures in Qatar. FIFA and its European counterpart UEFA want the tournament to be staged during the Northern Hemisphere winter but Rummenigge who chairs the European Club Association (ECA) thinks it should take place in the spring. 'At the moment there are two proposals on the table: the FIFA proposal in November and the UEFA proposal in January' Rummenigge told The Times. 'Our proposal is a bit different. We will publish that in the next few days. 'We have made some research ... and the outcome of this research is that the best option would be to start the World Cup at the end of April finishing in May. 'It's still hot but it would be something like 35 degrees (Celsius) maximum. If you then play in the evening let's say 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm then 9:30 pm (in Qatar) is 7:30 pm in central Europe 6:30 pm in the UK. 'From all points of view that's no problem. We will bring this option to the table to discuss at the FIFA task force on Nov 3.' Speaking earlier this month Rummenigge warned that European clubs will not foot the bill if the 2022 World Cup is moved to a different time of year. 'If now there is a strong wish (to move the 2022 World Cup) from various stakeholders like FIFA UEFA FIFPro and so on we are ready to discuss but under one condition: that there is no damage for club football' he told the Leaders Sport Business Summit in London. 'Because if we have a change from summer to November or to January then they will be affecting our business our calendar. And the bill at the end can't be paid by the clubs.

We are not ready to pay such a bill.' Meanwhile security at the 2018 World Cup 'must be effective but not intrusive' Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. Russian security was tight at the Sochi Olympics this year though it was not immediately clear whether Putin's comments would signal a different approach for the soccer tournament. 'I emphasize that security measures must be effective but not intrusive or extraneous and not creating discomfort for sportsmen or for fans' said Putin met with FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday. Security concerns for the World Cup will likely center on possible terrorist attacks by insurgents from Russia's North Caucasus and perhaps incidents linked to the Ukraine crisis.

The head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov said his organization which typically fights terrorism and organized crime had made tackling football hooliganism a priority in World Cup preparations. In related developments Blatter has revealed the logo for the 2018 World Cup in Russia - with the help of a crew of cosmonauts. The logo depicts the World Cup trophy in red and blue colors from the Russian flag with gold trim. Unveiling the logo on a Russian state TV talk show Blatter said the logo would show Russia's 'heart and spirit.' It was then presented over video link by a crew of three Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station. 'Seeing the football World Cup in our country was a dream for all of us' cosmonaut Elena Serova said.