FIFA president Sepp Blatter yesterday reiterated his desire for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be played at the end of the year in the winter rather than in the summer. “The best date would be the end of the year,” Blatter told BeIN Sport television in France. “One has to remain realistic. If you change because you can’t play in the summer then you must play in winter at the end of the year.” He also repeated his belief that football’s world governing body could not be held responsible for the deaths of construction workers racing against time to complete venues for this year’s World Cup in Brazil.

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