2022 World Cup Is ours to Host: Qatar Rejects Criticism.

The Secretary General of Qatar 2022 World Cup Organising Committee Hassan al-Thawadi has rejected calls for the tournament to be awarded to another country as concerns rise over high summer temperatures in the Middle Eastern state.

The president of world football governing body Sepp Blatter has being blowing the drums of a winter world cup to avoid the extreme temperature, which could rise to 50ºC in the region in the summer.

Blatter will hold talks with Fifa’s Executive Committee next month for discussions on a possible solution to the impending catastrophe.

Meanwhile there have been calls from the (English) Football Association chairman Greg Dyke for a shift in the tournament location if a suitable time to play in Qatar could not be agreed.

But Al-Thawadi, speaking with BBC Sport, insists there is “no reason” for a change in venue as against Qatar’s hosting right.

“We’ve worked very, very hard to ensure we’re within the rules of the bidding, within the rules of the hosting agreement,” he told BBC Sport.

“At the same time we’re delivering on all the promises that we’ve made. We’re working very hard to deliver it. The commitment is there.”

Blatter, 77, told insidewordfootball.com last weekend that the governing body may have made a “mistake” in awarding the tournament to Qatar in the summer.

“(Qatar) is the right place, the Middle East is the right place,” added Al-Thawadi.

“We are representing the Middle East, it is a Middle Eastern World Cup, so it is the right place. The Middle East deserves to host a major tournament.”

However Europe’s leading clubs, under the guise of the European Club Association (ECA) are “open” to the possibility of a winter World Cup in Qatar 2022.

Qatar defeated bids from South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States to win a ballot of Fifa’s 22 executive members for the right to host the 2022 World Cup.