FIFA: 'Nine years is plenty of time to prepare for a winter World Cup'

FIFA have told the Premier League that nine years is more than enough time to prepare for a winter World Cup.

Both FIFA and FA Chairman Greg Dyke have suggested that the 2022 tournament in Qatar will have to be moved to winter due to soaring summer temperatures in the region.

That would disrupt a lot of domestic schedules, but vice-president Jim Boyce thinks that the Premier League will have enough time to prepare.

"I fully understand the Premier League," Boyce told BBC Radio Five. "But I would hope in nine years' time people can sit down a realise a sensible decision has to be made.

"Most of the opposition appears to be coming from the Premier League. There are many European countries who can not play in winter and have a winter break.

"If people sit down and work out the calendar properly, I don't see why this would affect three seasons. The Premier League is probably the biggest in the world but this is nine years [away]."

The Qatar organising committee has said that it would be open to staging the tournament during winter.