Platini: WC-Olympics clash not football’s concern

Michel Platini. (Claude Paris/AP)

BURTON-ON-TRENT, England — UEFA President Michel Platini suggests that football leaders don’t share FIFA’s concern over upsetting the IOC by scheduling the 2022 World Cup near the Winter Olympics.

FIFA’s continental confederations pressed on Monday for a January-February tournament to avoid Qatar’s summer heat. FIFA prefers a November kickoff.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter, an IOC member, has assured Olympic movement president Thomas Bach the World Cup will not clash with the Winter Games expected in February 2022.

Platini tells reporters: "That is FIFA, they don’t want to clash with the Olympic Committee but the rest of the world wants to find the best solution for the football."

FIFA’s panel studying 2022 options meets again in about three months.

Blatter’s executive committee will decide the tournament dates, and next meets in March and May.

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