FIFA: Blatter on shifting the dates of Qatar 2020 FIFA boss Sepp Blatter went on the defensive Friday over claims of slave-like abuse of workers preparing for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, acknowledging concerns but saying football's governing body cannot step in. The world of football is split over whether to shift the World Cup from its traditional June and July slot to the winter in order escape the scorching Gulf heat -- a climate issue that critics say could hardly have escaped FIFA's notice. Blatter argued that June and July were never set in stone and that rescheduling would reflect football's global appeal by showing that anyone can host the World Cup. Soundbites