2022 World Cup to be held in November & December

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar can only be held in November and December, says the head of Fifa's taskforce looking into possible dates for the tournament.

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa has ruled out May, the preferred option of Europe's top leagues and clubs.

Qatar's bid proposed a summer tournament, but temperatures in the Gulf state are believed to pose a potential risk to players' health.

A January/February tournament would clash with the 2022 Winter Olympics.

"All parties have to compromise, not just the Europeans," Sheikh Salman said.

Hassan Al Thawadi, head of the Qatar 2022 World Cup organising committee, told BBC Sport the hosts were "ready to comply" with the "football community's decision".

"Whatever decision gets taken, we are ready to host it at any point in time," Al Thawadi said.

During the bidding process, Qatar presented plans for air-conditioned stadiums, fan zones and training grounds to address concerns over the summer heat.

"Whenever the World Cup is hosted, we're still moving ahead with the cooling technology for the legacy that it offers," Al Thawadi said.

Sheikh Salman's winter proposal raises the prospect of a stand-off with European clubs over domestic schedules and player availability .

However, his stance appears to have the backing of Michel Platini, president of European football's governing body Uefa.