Valcke’s assertion was quickly refuted by FIFA but that didn’t stop a storm from breaking out over the whole affair, Daily Star reported on Friday.

UEFA chief Michel Platini was quick to stick the boot in, accusing the world football governing body of making arbitrary decisions beyond its remit.

As UEFA president, Platini sits on the FIFA Executive Committee, headed by FIFA President Sepp Blatter, but he claimed Valcke’s comments suggested that body was being bypassed by FIFA’s top dogs.

“At the last Executive Committee meeting in October it was decided that a deep consultation process should be launched throughout football and that no decision would be taken before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil,” Platini told French sports newspaper L’Equipe.

“It was also decided no one should speak about this subject until then.

“Therefore I don’t understand why it has been discussed publicly. Two months ago it was Blatter who spoke about it, this time it’s Valcke, but it’s a decision to be made by the FIFA Executive Committee.

“But maybe the Executive Committee no longer serves any purpose. If the decision has already been made then there’s no need for us to meet.

“Essentially, some people like to talk,” Platini added.

European media were quick to pick up on the internal strife with Italy’s La Gazzetta dello sport running the headline: “Qatar 2022 chaos: when will it be played?”

Gazzetta went on to say: “It’s still ‘only’ nine [sic. eight] years away but already Qatar 2022 is the most complicated World Cup in history.

The International Olympic Committee has already made it clear that the tournament should not clash with the 2022 Winter Olympics.

NTJ/BA