FIFA ended more than four years of uncertainty over the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by announcing on Thursday that it would be played in November and December with the final on Dec. 18.

Spokesman Walter De Gregorio said the winter tournament would probably last 28 days, instead of the 32 for last year’s finals in Brazil, but this was still to be decided.

“The executive committee today … decided that, yes, we are going to play in November and December and, yes, the final is going to be played on Dec. 18,” De Gregorio told reporters at FIFA headquarters.

“It’s a Sunday and it’s also the national day of Qatar and, in principle, we try to play in 28 days.

“The next steps will be to have different talks especially related to the match calendar,” he added, referring to the 2019-22 cycle of international fixtures and the 2023 African Nations Cup in Guinea that is scheduled to be played in January.

Thursday’s news was widely expected after the November/December period had been recommended by a task force of soccer’s ruling body FIFA.

It will be the first time the tournament has been played outside the European summer.

Qatar was awarded the event in December 2010 on the basis it would take place in the summer in air-conditioned stadiums.

Collision course

But within days Franz Beckenbauer, an executive committee member at the time, and UEFA president Michel Platini suggested a winter World Cup would be possible.

Qatar always said a summer World Cup was viable thanks to cooling technologies it is developing for stadiums, training areas and fan zones. However, there was still widespread concern for the health of players and supporters.

The decision could set FIFA on a collision course with the European clubs who had suggested staging the tournament in May as a compromise.

The European Clubs Association (ECA), which represents more than 200 teams, previously said they would demand compensation for interrupting the league season.

In addition to the tournament, clubs must release players two weeks before for training and warm-up friendlies.

The ECA demand had already been rejected by FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke who said the switch to November/December was a one-off.

Qatar still faces controversy for its treatment of migrant workers, mainly from Nepal and India, employed in the construction industry.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said Qatar must do more to protect those working on 2022 sites.

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The son of the Blues boss believes the club’s fans must show more loyalty and support to the midfielder after his performance against Southampton was criticised

Chelsea supporters are a “disgrace” for criticising Cesc Fabregas after Sunday’s Premier League draw with Southampton, according to Jose Mourinho’s son.

An error-strewn performance from Fabregas prompted groans of exasperation on several occasions as the Blues laboured to a draw at Stamford Bridge, with many more venting their frustration with the Spaniard on social media.

Fabregas tops the Premier League assist table by a distance, having laid on 15 goals for his team, but the 27-year-old’s form has dipped since the turn of the year and he has registered just one assist in his last 10 matches.

“Why is everyone hating and blaming Fabregas for Sunday’s performance… It was a team effort,” Jose Mourinho Jr, a youth team goalkeeper at Fulham, wrote on Instagram.

“Fabregas might have not played as well as most expected but at least he kept fighting… Showed a lot of character, I’ve seen bad Chelsea fans but Sunday was the worse I’ve ever seen, Fans booing Cesc not singing at all, I completely agree with the chant “Mourinho’s right, you’re fans are s—e” Our fans are a disgrace!!!!”

Mourinho himself has criticised the Stamford Bridge crowd on several occasions this season, claiming he thought his side were “playing in an empty stadium” after a 1-0 win over QPR in November.

Mourinho Jr’s Instagram page has since been taken down, but screenshots of the post have circulated online.

Chelsea stoked controversy earlier this week by posting images of Graeme Souness and Jamie Carragher arguing with officials on Instagram alongside the caption ‘for those with short memories’, after the Sky Sports duo had criticised the conduct of Blues players towards referee Bjorn Kuipers against Paris Saint-Germain.

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Arsenal bowed out of the Champions League despite winning 2-0 at Monaco, much to the frustration of their French coach, who feels away goals should only count after extra-time

Arsene Wenger has called for the away goals rules to be changed in the Champions League after Arsenal were knocked out after a 3-3 aggregate draw with Monaco.

The Gunners won 2-0 at the Stade Louis II, thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey but failed to become the first team to overturn a two-goal home leg deficit.

The 3-3 aggregate scoreline saw Arsenal knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage for the fifth consecutive season, and Wenger feels the current rules are old fashioned.

“It’s two teams that have gone out on away goals, so it should be questioned. It is a rule that is outdated,” he told reporters.

“In direct knockout you can be a bit lucky as well. None of the teams apart from Barcelona appear to be that much superior. It should count maybe after extra-time.

“This rule has been created in the 1960s. The weight of the away goal is perhaps too big today. I still think you can count it maybe after extratime.”

He added: “We have to move on. We know why we went out – it’s down to a dreadful defensive performance in the first leg.”

The away goals rule was first implemented in the European Cup for the 1967-68 season but was not use

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The struggling Serie A giants lost from a winning position against Fiorentina but the French defender insists that his side can still make the Europa League

Philippe Mexes says AC Milan must continue to aim for a European spot despite Monday’s defeat to Fiorentina leaving them 10 points adrift of the Europa League positions.

The Rossoneri squandered the lead in the last eight minutes to go down 2-1 against Vincenzo Montella’s side in Florence.

And while the French defender admits his team is playing with fear at the moment, he believes they can still make a late run for the top six.

“We dropped our level too much and we tried to see it out defensively,” Mexes told Milan Channel of the Fiorentina reverse. “In the end, the fear took over after the concession of the late goal against Verona in the previous game.

“But Milan cannot remain out of Europe. We have to stand up – there are 33 points left to play for and we will look to take them all. It is a difficult championship for everyone but we must try to win every game from Saturday onwards.”

The future of coach Filippo Inzaghi has been cast in severe doubt in the face of Milan’s run of just two wins in 12 league games.

But just as the former striker was upbeat following their latest defeat, so Mexes believes there are positives to be taken from Monday’s loss.

“We have to take good things from the match against Fiorentina,” he added. “We saw a proactive team who tried to play with the ball. We are Milan and we must continue on this path.

“Maybe in some situations we lack a little grit and we are short on confidence. But we must work to concede fewer goals because we know that, with our players, we will always be capable of scoring more.”

Milan return to the field on Saturday at 20:45 CET, with struggling Cagliari the visitors to San Siro.

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The €31 million Dutch winger wants to move to Old Trafford and reunite with former Netherlands head coach Louis Van Gaal despite serious interest from both Liverpool and Tottenham

Memphis Depay has told Manchester United he wants to join them as they close in on a deal to bring the PSV star to Old Trafford.

The €31 million-rated winger is one of European football’s hottest properties and is also a leading target for Liverpool and Tottenham this summer, with both clubs sending scouts to watch him in recent weeks.

United, though, are confident Depay will join the club and sources have told Goal they are making ‘strong progress’ both in negotiations with PSV and the 21-year-old’s representatives.

Goal first revealed last summer that Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal had urged the 21-year-old to stay in the Netherlands for a year with a view to a big-money move at the end of the current season.

The pair have a strong relationship after Van Gaal handed Depay his international debut before taking him to the World Cup, where he scored twice and was shortlisted for the young player of the tournament award.

Depay has sought assurances that he will feature heavily in Van Gaal’s plans at United so he can build on the sparkling form that has seen him score 22 goals in 33 matches in all competitions this season.

United have close ties with Depay’s management group and believe they have seen off strong competition, particularly from Tottenham who saw a bid rejected last summer, to sign the speedy winger.

The 13-time Netherlands international is almost certain to leave PSV this summer with the Eindhoven club runaways leaders in the Eredivisie, holding an 11-point advantage over second-placed Ajax.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is keen to tie up transfer deals early despite doubts over whether the club will finish in the top four and book a place in next season’s Champions League.

The 20-time champions are prepared to spend another €209 million this year to strengthen the squad and provide Van Gaal with a team capable of challenging for the title next term.

Depay’s anticipated arrival at United could raise fresh doubts over the future of some of their stars, including record signing Angel Di Maria.

The Argentine has struggled to settle on and off the pitch since his €83m switch to United from Real Madrid last summer, scoring just four goals in 26 appearances.

Di Maria was sent off during the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Arsenal earlier this month and Van Gaal recently admitted he will not stand in the attacking midfielder’s way if he seeks a summer move.

“As a manager, you can never say no or yes because the player at the end shall always decide but I don’t think he shall move,” the Dutchman told reporters. “Despite his incident with his wife at home, he is very pleased to be here at Manchester United.

“I’m always like that. When you see my history – that’s part of my philosophy. A player is not just a man who kicks the ball from A to B. Also, his environment is influencing him.

“So I shall always be open for that conversation but I know also the commercial interests of the club and we have to respect that. You cannot give a lot of money for a player and then, next season, put him out of your selection.”

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