It remains to be seen whether the 2022 World Cup will be played in the summer or the winter, but one high-ranking FIFA official has a solution to ensure a winter World Cup gets played without a problem: Move the two biggest competitions in European club soccer.
Ahead of Friday's Euro 2012 draw in the Ukraine, UEFA president Michel Platini said that he is open to moving the UEFA Champions League and Europa League competitions in order to accommodate a winter World Cup in Qatar.
"If we play in winter, not a problem to organize it," said Platini, who admitted to voting for Qatar over the other candidates in an interview with Al Jazeera. "How can people go to Qatar in 50 degrees (celsius) in June? If the people can't come to enjoy it, it's not good. If we play in winter it will be not a problem. Instead (of stopping the season) in May you play until June, and then stop in December. Where is the problem?"
Here are a few more stories to get your Friday going:
BOSWELL RE-SIGNS WITH DYNAMO
One of the more intriguing names on the MLS Re-Entry Draft list is no longer eligible for selection.
Bobby Boswell and the Houston Dynamo agreed to a new deal Thursday, one that extends the starting centerback's stay with the club. Terms of the deal were not released.
Boswell, whose 2011 salary figure was $210,000, was a key component of Houston's run to MLS Cup and has been with the club for the last four seasons. Houston had until Friday at 5 p.m. to come to terms with him on a new deal before exposing him to the first phase of the Re-Entry Draft, which takes place on Monday.
O'NEILL TO TAKE SUNDERLAND JOB
It didn't take Sunderland very long to find a successor for Steve Bruce.
Two days after firing Bruce, the club reportedly has a deal in place with former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill to take over on the sidelines.
O'Neill, who won't coach the Black Cats' game against Wolverhampton this weekend, last managed in the 2009-2010 season, stepping down from his post at Villa just days before the 2010-2011 campaign was set to start. He'll be charged with turning around a team that has won just twice in 13 league games and sits 16th in the Premier League table.
RSL DEALS ALEXANDRE TO SAN JOSE
Real Salt Lake traded midfielder Jean Alexandre to the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.
The Haitian international never really lived up to expectations with RSL after being the 12th overall pick in the 2009 SuperDraft. He was thrust into a forward role because of team injuries during the summer and responded with some promising performances, including a goal and an assist against the Vancouver Whitecaps in June.
Alexandre is the second player to be acquired in as many days by the Earthquakes, after the team dealt allocation money to Vancouver for Shea Salinas on Wednesday.
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What do you think of Platini's comments? Think Houston made the right move by re-signing Boswell? Do you see O'Neill turning things around at Sunderland? Can you see Alexandre playing a big role for San Jose?
Share your thoughts below.