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Blatter repeats backing for winter 2022 World Cup

FIFA president Sepp Blatter talks during a press conference on March 21, 2014 in Zurich

FIFA president Sepp Blatter reiterated Sunday his desire for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be played at the end of the year in the winter rather than in the searing heat of a Gulf summer. He also repeated his belief that football's world governing body cannot be held responsible for the deaths of construction workers racing against time to complete venues for this year's World Cup in Brazil. Pressure has been building for the 2022 tournament to be moved from its traditional June-July slot due to temperatures which rocket to the high 40 degrees in the Middle East. A decision will not be taken until 2015. "The best date would be the end of the year," Blatter told BeIN Sport television in France. "One has to remain realistic. If you change because you can't play in the summer then you must play in winter at the end of the year." Blatter was also quizzed over the deaths of seven men working on the stadiums for the World Cup in Brazil. "The organisation of the work has been done poorly," said Blatter. "This is not the cause of football. The big companies, especially the German and French companies, are responsible."