Dates over when the World Cup will be hosted are still under discussion with November and December the most likely options, although January and February have also been suggested.

Should the tournament be held in the early months of the year it is likely to clash with the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as America's Super Bowl.

Kasper, who is also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and head of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations, warned against such a decision which would cause huge controversy across the world of sport.

"FIFA is trying to find a way out of a situation they created themselves," Kasper told Reuters at the alpine skiing World Cup opener in Soelden.

"They could have thought about the weather in Qatar before but if they want to move into the winter, I think it would be possible to have it in November or December."

"We could live with that.

"But if they want to move to January and February and overlap with the Winter Games or, like one FIFA representative said, just eliminate those Winter Games that have no interest, then of course I'm heavily opposed to it."

The 2022 FIFA World Cup has faced much criticism since it was awarded to Qatar in December 2010 ©Getty Images



The 2022 FIFA World Cup has been under heavy criticism ever since it was awarded to Qatar in December 2010 with instant doubts over whether it could be held in its traditional summer months due to the scorching temperatures found in the Gulf state.

Kasper, 70, FIS president since 1998, said a decision to move the World Cup to January or February would be counter-productive to both events.

"If television networks have to cover two major events just one after the other, they cannot afford it," he said.

In an effort to avoid any major clashes, the European Clubs Association (ECA) said last week it would consider an April/May tournament.

Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the administrator who led the FIFA Inspection Group that evaluated the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, suggested the tournament ought to be moved to May and June, with games taking place after midnight when the heat is less intense.

Only two cities are left in the bidding for the 2022 Winter Games - Beijing and Almaty - following the latest withdrawal of Norwegian city, Oslo.


The reported cost of Sochi 2014 is one of the reasons why cities are reluctant to bid for the Winter Olympics, it has been claimed ©Getty Images



Kasper has claimed it is "nothing special" that a number of bidders pulled out.

"I remember that for the Summer Games we once had only one candidate [1984 when only Los Angeles bid following the withdrawal of Tehran]," he added.

"It's not the quantity that decides but the quality.

"Now we have two Asian candidates, it's not only in sport but also in the financial world that most things have moved to Asia."

The 70-year-old Swiss did admit concern that public opinion was so anti-hosting the Winter Olympics particular in Germany, Norway and Switzerland, citing the $51 billion (£26 billion/€32 billion) reportedly spent by Russia at Sochi 2014 as a result of the public's lack of support.

"It's the consequence of Sochi and the enormous financial cost they had there," he added.

"One talks of $51 billion, which is just crazy.

"We have to ask ourselves what we want between 'nice to have' and 'must have', and if we stick to the 'must have', then the problem is more or less solved.

"From the IOC side or the FIS side we should not try to convince hosts to spend more money.

"We don't need Buckingham Palace as the start to a bobsleigh or a luge race."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
October 2014: European Football Leagues body claims Qatar 2022 should remain in summer
October 2014: Head of FIFA World Cup Inspection Group wants matches at Qatar 2022 after midnight
October 2014: IOC insist 2022 FIFA World Cup and Olympics will not clash as football chief calls for Games to be moved
October 2014: "Pompous" IOC demands "led to withdrawal of Oslo 2022 Olympic bid"
September 2014: Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup may yet clash with Winter Olympics