EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW


finals to date. It has been acknowledged that the pitches used in the Russia finals were the best collection of pitches seen at a World Cup. Being all hybrid helped and has shown the way forward. FIFA have held a very detailed debrief of the 2018 finals with the Russian LOC responsible for delivering the finals, and mandatory recommendations have been made to include hybrid pitches in the stadiums and venue specific training pitches in Qatar. The use of vacuum systems, which is something I agree with, has also been recommended.


Russia saw the finals held in one of the biggest countries in the world and the 2022 finals will be held in one of the smallest, which will offer up unique opportunities. Despite being winter in Qatar, the warm conditions will be a challenge, but one I am confident we can overcome. Qatar is roughly 99 miles end to end and will offer the opportunity to centrally locate workshops and support facilities, which was not possible due to the sheer size of Russia.


being dismantled and donated to developing countries.


PC: You were involved in the delivery of the 2018 Finals in Russia. What did you learn and how do you think Qatar will compare?


AF: The experience I gained from my


involvement in Russia during the build-up, and then in the finals, was invaluable. I was working for SIS Pitches who had contracts to deliver six pitches in Russia. The venues in Kaliningrad, Rostov, Samara, Saransk, Spartak and the final venue at the Luzhniki Stadium each threw up challenges which were met and helped deliver one of the best


PC: You mention the climate of Qatar. Despite it being their winter, there will be extreme heat in the build-up to the tournament, how are you planning to cope with that?


AF: We have already talked about the challenges of the heat. As we build up to the World Cup, we will have come out of their summer where temperatures are regularly in


PC December/January 2019


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