Blatter insists Qatar 2022 World Cup must be played NO later than December 18

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the 2022 World Cup final cannot be played any later than December 18.

Earlier this week UEFA said it wanted the tournament, which will be staged in Qatar, to run from November 26 to December 23, hindering most nations' competitions - including the Premier League.

However, Blatter says he is against the tournament finishing so close to Christmas.

Blatter is in Northern Ireland for this weekend’s International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting and told reporters: "The World Cup will not go on until the 23rd, definitely not, we have to stop at the 18th. I am against going to the 23rd."

Blatter said he would propose that idea to the FIFA executive committee when it meets next month.

With a winter World Cup looking inevitable, it means that European leagues will be hit the hardest in terms of having to re-schedule their calendars. Premier League clubs in particular are unhappy although Blatter believes there is room for compromise, but says that compensation for clubs is a non-starter.

Blatter added: "They are not furious, but they are not very happy, and although there is noise about FIFA and the World Cup in Qatar we have seven years to prepare for it. Where this is a good will, there will be a solution and I am sure everyone will be fine."

"I don’t think they should be (compensated). This is football. The European clubs are not so happy but they should be in solidarity. This is the important thing."

...DailyMirror