UEFA president Michel Platini says he is not opposing in principle the idea of rescheduling the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to winter from summer to avoid extreme desert temperatures.

After a UEFA meeting in Prague yesterday, Platini said it would be easier to organise the World Cup in January, instead of June: “On that I agree, and why not? It’s possible.”

Platini said, however, that change would open a number of issues, including if the players should be given February to rest.

Outgoing FIFA executive Franz Beckenbauer was one of those who has proposed the change.

At the same time, Platini defended the choice of Qatar, saying players already had to face extreme heat at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.