FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitted for the first time over the weekend that he “expects” the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be staged in the winter due to concerns over the stifling heat in the summer months for players.
However, Rogge is concerned about the impact of such a move on the Winter Olympics that year, which are likely to take place in January and February.
“We have had no contact with FIFA because this is a very hypothetical discussion,” Rogge told reporters. “FIFA has not taken a decision to shift (the World Cup) to winter months.”
He added: “It would be sensible once a decision is envisaged by FIFA to sit around the table to see it is not harmful for either of the two parties. FIFA will take quietly a decision, taking into consideration the bracket that we have to respect. This might be a sensible decision to avoid the clash.”
The 2022 Games will be awarded in 2015, and Rogge continued: “The original foreseen dates for the 2022 World Cup were mid-June (to) end of July. That is what was in the documents. FIFA voted on this with (playing in) air-conditioned venues.”
