Wednesday 25 February 2015 13:42, UK
FIFA has confirmed that there will be no compensation for European clubs over the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
UEFA has also confirmed to Sky Sports News HQ that it has suggested the final should be played on December 23 - the preferred date of most of the confederations according to FIFA - with the tournament getting under way on November 26.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of the European Clubs' Association, stated on Tuesday that the leading European clubs would demand compensation from FIFA if the 2022 World Cup was played in November and December, as has been recommended by the FIFA task force.
The former Germany international claimed such a move would cause "great damage" to domestic football due to the rescheduling of match calendars.
He said: "European clubs and leagues cannot be expected to bear the costs for such rescheduling. We expect the clubs to be compensated for the damage that a final decision would cause.”
However, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has insisted that leading European clubs, including the top Premier League teams, will not receive any financial compensation.
I definitely don't feel I have to apologise for the decision to confirm that the World Cup will not be played in the summer.
He said: "There will be no compensation. There are seven years to reorganise. We are in agreement with the clubs."
Valcke also called on European clubs to accept the scheduling switch - which is expected to be confirmed at FIFA's executive committee meeting in Zurich on March 19 and 20 - even though "it's not perfect".
"It is happening once and we are doing nothing that destroys football," he said.
"Why should we apologise to the clubs? We have had an agreement with the clubs that they are part of the beneficiaries. It was 40 million (US) dollars in 2010 and 70 million in 2014.
"We are bringing all our people to enjoy the sporting and financial results of the World Cup.
"I definitely don't feel I have to apologise for the decision to confirm that the World Cup will not be played in the summer."
Valcke also confirmed that the 2022 World Cup will be four days shorter as a "concession" to the leagues and clubs - 28 days instead of the usual 32 - and that the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 will be moved to June from January.
December 18 remains a strong possibility for the final - it is Qatar's national day and also falls on a Sunday - with the other option of December 23 preferred by the confederations despite opposition from the Premier League and Football Association due to the disruption it would cause to the festive programme in England.
Valcke said: "Most confederations say they want the World Cup to end on the 23rd of December."
