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Blatter Wants Qatar Final Before 18 December

FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar to be played no later than 18 December.

Blatter's suggestion comes after a FIFA task force recommended the tournament be played in November and December to avoid Qatar's summer heat.

The task force also suggested the event be shortened from the current 32 days .

European football leagues and clubs had called for the event to be staged in May and June to reduce the impact on their playing schedules.

But that suggestion has been ruled out due to the extreme summer weather in Qatar.

The final is traditionally played on a Sunday and 18 December is Qatar's national day.

"The 23rd, definitely not (for the final). We have to stop at the 18th," said Mr Blatter.

FIFA has the backing of UEFA for the change in dates despite objections from the Premier League.

"They are not so very happy and it's so good now to make a little bit of noise about FIFA and about the World Cup in Qatar," Mr Blatter said. "There are more than six years - particularly seven years - to prepare. And there is a goodwill."

FIFA has also announced that clubs will not receive any compensation if the World Cup goes ahead during winter.

The organisation's secretary general Jerome Valcke said: "There will be no compensation. I mean, they have seven years to reorganise football around the world for this World Cup.

"It's not perfect, we know that, but why are we talking about compensation? It's happening once, we're not destroying football.

"Why should we apologise to the clubs? We have had an agreement with the clubs that they are part of the beneficiaries.

"It was $40m (£25.8m) in 2010 and $70m (£45m) in 2014."