In an unprecedented move, FIFA is looking to move the 2022 World Cup to the early winter months.
According to ESPN, "FIFA is now planning to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in November rather than January, a source at the governing body told kicker."
FIFA president Sepp Blatter previously stated that he wanted to move the tournament to the winter because the summer weather was too hot for players and fans to endure.
"There is still enough time. I will bring this up to the executive committee," Blatter previously stated. "If this World Cup is to become a party for the people, you can't play football in the summer. You can cool down the stadiums, but you can't cool down the whole country."
The tournament is usually hosted in June when European domestic leaves are on their annual break. The leagues usually resume in August and finish their first half in January for a month-long break. Many believed that the World Cup could fit in the January break. While this would certainly anger teams it would not disrupt the season. However a move to November would alter season schedules and would also cripple the yearly Champions league; group stage matches take place in November.
A number of organization representatives have already voiced their disapproval for this plan.
"My personal view is that it would be a case of a false prospectus if the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was switched to the winter. It is a serious matter bidding for the World Cup, and countries including ourselves spent huge amounts of money bidding for the tournament," said FA Chairman David Bernstein. "The bid was for the World Cup to be played in June and July, and for it then to be moved to the winter would be fundamentally flawed. If people want it in the winter, they should bid for it on that basis. To try and get it through the back door like this is absolutely flawed."
German Football Association president Theo Zwanziger added, "If you change the match calendar, it not only affects Bundesliga but also goes all the way down to the minor leagues. The structure of German football is in danger and therefore the unity of German football.
"If the decision [to award the World Cup to Qatar] was wrong back then you have to reverse it and should not load extra burdens on non-participants."
A vote among the 27 FIFA executive committee members is slated for October at the organization's next conference.