The 2022 Qatar World Cup vanity project everyone except Sepp Blatter, FIFA, and the Qatari royal family want to wish away got one more wrinkle as Karl Heinz Rummenigge essentially demanded compensation if the tournament is moved to the winter. Player comfort will improve with the cooler temperatures but a winter change would crimp domestic league business not to mention increase the potential injuries and World Cup hangovers of the sort Mesut Oezil continues to suffer which impact performance.

“We are not ready to pay such a bill. That cost cannot be paid for by the clubs. It has to be made clear to FIFA that they need the goodwill of the clubs or we are not ready to talk.”

As president of the European Club Association, Rummenigge represents the business interests of the big clubs, most of them not too happy with UEFA poking around their accounts for FFP violations. Any loss in business makes the FFP maxim of loss should not exceed profits more difficult. A big fat check from FIFA for a winter participation might make that headache disappear.