The Middle East Political Crisis, What's the Fate of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
LEAPYGUIDE.COM - The Middle East was hit by political crisis after several countries cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar. What is the fate of the World Cup in the country in 2022?
The government of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and then followed by the United Arab Emirates, as well as Egypt broke off diplomatic relations with Qatar on Monday (5/6/2017) yesterday. The countries took this step by accusing Qatar of supporting terrorist acts.
Termination of diplomatic relations by some Arab countries against Qatar of course brings a huge impact in various fields. One is related to flights, because the Arab countries that are now 'divorced' with Qatar forbid Qatar Airways through their airspace.
The situation makes the soccer public worried. You see, within the next five years Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup. Then, if the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was under threat?
"(FIFA) made regular contact with the Qatar 2022 Organizing Committee and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy to deal with issues related to the 2022 World Cup. No other comments we have issued at the moment," FIFA official statement quoted ABC as saying.
The Qatar Football Association and AFC declined to comment on the incident. From Europe, the German Football Association (DFB) said it would communicate with its government to discuss it. DFB hopes the political situation in Qatar could improve as the time is still long before the 2022 World Cup kickoff.
"We will discuss the latest complex political situation in the region, and especially Qatar, with our federal government, and we will also be in intense talks with our government.
"There are still five years before the World Cup begins, in that period the priority is about the political situation, not about the threat of a boycott, but one that is certain, the soccer community must agree that a major tournament should not be held in a country that actively supports terrorism, "Said DFB President Reinhard Grindel.