EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
thought the dual role I carried out with the FA from 2015 to 2017 - overseeing the pitches at Wembley and St. Georges Park - was off the scale, but the FIFA role is truly global and on a different planet. It is a bit surprising that we are in late 2018 and this is the first time FIFA will have an in-house pitch manager but, that said, I am delighted to be the person who has been given the opportunity to oversee FIFA’s pitch management operation. In between now and the Qatar World Cup, there will be fourteen tournaments to prepare for because the youth tournaments are played every two years and the Club World Cup every year. The main focus will be on Qatar; a considerable amount of time will be spent supporting and servicing the other World Cups in the cycle.
PC: You recently arrived back from your first visit in Qatar, what were your first impressions?
AF: There has been a lot of discussion on Qatar since they were awarded the World Cup, but you have to take your hat off to them for what they have already achieved. On first impressions, you cannot help but be impressed by the developments and progress made. A lot of good work has already been done looking at stadium design and pitches, and the role of FIFA now will be to work with our colleagues in Qatar to ensure the best from Russia is merged with the best from Qatar to produce a memorable finals.
PC: FIFA usually like to implement a Legacy Programme with their Stadia. How many are being built for the World Cup and what is the Legacy Programme for them?
AF: Eight stadia will be used to host the 64 games. There will be a reserve stadium, so nine in total. Right away we have the first challenge as the finals were held in twelve stadiums in Russia with 64 games. I am confident, if we use what was successful in Russia to start the project in Qatar, we will produce excellent surfaces for the 2022 finals.
Khalifa international stadium is the first to be completed
and is currently in use. Three more will come into use over the course of 2019, with the remainder due in 2020.
The eight stadiums being used are:
Khalifa International: Capacity here will be 40,000 and will be fullycompleted by Q3 2020. The legacy programme will see capacity reduced to 20,000 after the World Cup.
Education City: Due to be completed by Q3 2020, it will have a capacity of 40,000 being reduced to 20,000 as part of the legacy programme.
Al Rayan: Will be
completed by Q4 in 2019 and have a tournament capacity of 40,000. This, like some of the others, will reduce to 20,000 in legacy.
Al Bayat: In the North of Qatar, this stadium will host games in
the second phase of the tournament and will have a capacity of 60,000. Legacy will reduce the capacity to 32,000. The stadium also has the challenge of the retractable roof.
Lusail Stadium: Situated in the new city being built, which is remarkable to see in itself. The stadium will be the one to host the opening ceremony and opening game, as well as the final and closing ceremony. It will have a capacity of 80,000, which is required for the final by FIFA, reducing to 40,000 after the tournament. It will be completed in Q4 of 2020.
Ras Abu: This stadium will be one of the fully demountable stadiums being used in the 2022 finals. Due for completion in Q4 of 2020, it has a capacity of 40,000 reducing to 20,000 after the finals.
Al Wakrah Stadium: Will be completed by Q2 in 2019. It will have a tournament capacity of 40,000 reducing, like others, to 20,000.
The stadiums look to be some of most futuristic ever designed for a World Cup and have the innovative idea of some of them
In between now and the Qatar World Cup, there will be fourteen tournaments to prepare for because the youth tournaments are
”
played every two years and the Club World Cup every year
14 PC December/January 2019
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