The sport’s world governing body FIFA ordered referees to more accurately calculate the length of stoppages during last year’s World Cup in Qatar, focusing on goal celebrations as well as injuries, VAR checks and substitutions. For Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane, the report found it would be equivalent to 2.6 extra games per season. Only 11 per cent said they would favour a World Cup being played in November and December again, amid reports Saudi Arabia wishes to co-host a winter finals in 2030. Baer-Hoffmann said: “Repeating what we had (in Qatar) is clearly not acceptable and shouldn’t be a viable option for anybody. “If you want to pursue a winter World Cup again, I think you need to go into conversations with the leagues that they completely change their schedule and provide appropriate training and recovery time pre and post that tournament.

Source: The Herald March 09, 2023 21:44 UTC