MARRAKECH, Morocco — FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke says President Sepp Blatter will oppose a January kickoff for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, despite it being a key option under consideration. Valcke tried to narrow the choice to January-February or November-December after FIFA last month hosted leaders of confederations, leagues, clubs and players' unions. They meet again on Feb. 23, Valcke says, but the first option is dismissed by IOC member Blatter. January-February “will potentially impact the (2022) Olympic Winter Games so that's definitely not for him a real option,” Valcke says. Valcke says winter sports think it is “unfair from football” to try to occupy January. European clubs and leagues still propose a May tournament to avoid Qatar's hottest summer months. Valcke says FIFA's executive committee will decide in March. FIFA accepts IOC age limit Blatter, meanwhile, has said he had voted for a new age limit rule that could force him to leave the International Olympic Committee in two years because he is “a team player.” Blatter, 78, had previously slammed the proposed change to make IOC members leave when they are 80 as “discriminatory.” There had been talk of a possible amendment being proposed at the Monaco IOC special session, but none materialized and the motion was unanimously passed. Blatter told reporters he had not opposed the measure because the “huge majority” of the IOC was behind it and “because I am a team player.” Blatter is standing for a new term as FIFA president in an election next May. He has been an IOC member since 1999 and is one of the most powerful and controversial figures in world sport. But even if he wins next year, under the new rule he will have to leave the Olympic body at the end of 2016. IOC members currently have to leave when they are 70. But Blatter avoided that rule because he joined the IOC before it was passed. — Agencies
