Dubai, 4 October 2013. The official FIFA statement issued following its executive committee meeting in Zurich yesterday and today says that Bahrain’s FIFA representative Shaikh Salman Bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa will chair the working group set up to investigate the implications of changing the date of the 2022 World Cup finals.

It also said that the executive committee had mandated FIFA President Sepp Blatter to meet Qatar’s emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani to discuss the 2022 World Cup, labour rights and conditions in Qatar.

“The Executive Committee decided to launch a consultation process among the main stakeholders concerned, including both the international football community (FIFA, confederations, member associations, leagues, clubs, players) as well as FIFA’s business partners (Media Rights Licensees and Commercial Affiliates),” the statement said. “This consultation process will be undertaken by a working group chaired by AFC (Asian Football Confederation) President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.”

“Furthermore, the executive outlined that the tournament would be played in nine years’ time and that therefore the consultation process would not be rushed but would be given the necessary time to consider all of the elements relevant for a decision. Consequently, no decision will be taken before the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.”