Boyce: Nine years is plenty of time

11 August 2013 12:46

Vice-president of FIFA Jim Boyce has told the Premier League it would have more than enough time to prepare for a winter World Cup in Qatar.

With concerns about temperatures in the summer of 2022 going north of 50 degrees in Qatar, a number of the game's leading figures have called for a switch to the winter.

The Premier League's chief executive Richard Scudamore is not one of them, though, claiming a switch would have a three-year knock-on effect for his competition.

But a day after new Football Association chairman Greg Dyke spoke of moving to a cooler time of year, Boyce has given his view.

"I fully understand the Premier League but I would hope that in nine years' time - it's not next year or the following - that for the good of football people can sit down and realise a sensible decision has to be made," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek.

"Most of the opposition appears to be coming from the Premier League. There are many European countries who cannot play in the winter and do have a winter break.

"I read the Premier League are saying this impacts on three seasons. If people sit down and work out the calendar properly, I don't see why it would affect three seasons.

"The Premier League is probably the biggest in the world but this is nine years hence."

Boyce was keen to add that any move had not been formally discussed by FIFA's Executive Committee, which has two remaining meetings this year.

The Northern Irishman added his personal preference would be for the tournament to be held from January 6 to February 9

Source: PA