European clubs to hold global summit in Qatar

GENEVA (AP) -Top football clubs from 90 countries have been invited to a conference in Qatar, and assess preparations for the 2022 World Cup.

The 207-member European Club Association has asked 65 clubs from 37 other countries to attend its six-monthly assembly being held Feb. 4-6 in Doha.

ECA spokesman Marc Schmidgall says invited clubs include South American champion Corinthians, River Plate and Los Angeles Galaxy.

The event will also work as a fact-finding visit for clubs, some of which could potentially oppose changing the schedule for the 2022 tournament.

UEFA President Michel Platini has led calls for Qatar to move the tournament to November-December dates in the European midseason, to avoid the hot summer months.

After meeting World Cup organizers in Geneva in September, ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said members were "very curious'' about Qatar's preparations.