Platini Demands Dates Are Protected

20 March 2015 04:30

UEFA president Michel Platini has called on FIFA to protect the dates for international matches after it announced the timetable for the 2022 World Cup.

The final in Qatar is to be on Sunday, December 18 - a decision which will allow traditional Boxing Day club matches to take place in Britain and avoid the fierce heat of June and July.

It will be a shortened tournament over 28 days instead of the usual 32, starting on November 21. The final on December 18 is also Qatar's national day.

UEFA had pushed for the final to be as late as December 23 but that option attracted opposition from FIFA members who feared it would cause problems for fans and players getting home in time for Christmas, as well as affecting club football's festive programme.

Platini said he now supported the revised date.

He said: "December 18 is a good date for the final - perhaps December 23 would be too late if you are trying to get all the fans back on December 24. December 18 is fine for UEFA - we can accommodate any changes to the Champions League.

"But FIFA must now protect the international dates for the national associations - there are four international matches that could be affected and those are the lifeblood for the national associations.

"FIFA must look at the international calendar and make sure those dates are protected for the national associations."

Source: PA-WIRE