La Liga to sue FIFA over dates of 2022 World Cup in Qatar

No end to the controversies – La Liga to sue FIFA over dates of 2022 World Cup

The Professional Football League (LFP) president Javier Tebas has confirmed that a lawsuit has been filed against FIFA, in an attempt to reschedule the dates of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In the complaint submitted before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Tebas cites three independent case studies to state that the Spanish league is set to lose £46 million in revenues if the World cup is held in the European winter season.

The Gulf nation’s successful bid to host international football’s showpiece event has been mired in controversy throughout. Allegations of corruption in the bidding process, the extreme summer conditions and reported human rights violation of day labourers have been too many to ignore.

The move by the Spanish chief though, is the first legal battle with regards to the scheduling of the event. The joint proposal by the ECA (European Club Association) and EPFL (European Football Leagues) to stage the tournament between May 5 and June 4 was turned down by FIFA in 2014.

The other major European leagues have not officially signed on the complaint, though Tebas claims that he has the moral support of The Premier League, Serie A and the Bundesliga.

“They haven’t dared to sign the agreements. There is still much fear of FIFA. Using legal channels when there is difference of opinion is what civilised people do.”