FIFA executive committee member Theo
Zwanziger has called the decision to
award Qatar the World Cup in 2022 a
"blatant mistake".
Qatar's bid was favoured over those of
the USA, South Korea, Japan and
Australia, but concerns regarding the
viability of playing in the country's
searing summer temperatures were
raised immediately.
As a result, a move to play the tournament in Qatar's winter has been mooted.
Zwazinger was not part of the committee that made the decision but the German
believes that it should be allocated elsewhere if the country is not a suitable host.
"It was a blatant mistake," the 68-year-old told Sportbild magazine.
"If the decision was really a mistake it should be lifted and should not become an
even bigger burden for those who are not involved by changing it to the winter."
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested that the tournament should be moved to
avoid the soaring temperatures in the Middle East, but the former German Football
Association president does not agree.
"Changing the World Cup to the winter is going deep into the structures of European
national federations and also amateur football in Germany," he added.
"A change in playing schedules does not only affect the Bundesliga but continues
affecting lower divisions due to the link with promotion and relegation. The game
pyramid is in danger and so is the unity of German football."
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