Zwanziger proposes World Cup spread in Arab lands

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Outgoing FIFA official Theo Zwanziger says the 2022 World Cup should be taken away from Qatar and spread around Arab countries four years later.

Zwanziger is a vocal opponent of Qatar's hosting right, and says "this sinful case" is so big that "world football will not come to peace" unless the tournament is taken away from the small, gas-rich Gulf nation.

As a compromise, Zwanziger proposes holding the World Cup four years later in winter and in the Arab region, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Zwanziger, a former German football federation president, was speaking in an interview with the German newspaper Rheinische Post. He is leaving FIFA's executive committee in May.