Football's ruling body FIFA is not interested in other sports and winter sport doesn't exist for them, world ski federation (FIS) president Gian Franco Kasper said in reference to the scheduling debate around the 2022 World Cup.
Kasper told dpa at the current alpine skiing world championships in Vail/Beaver Creek that even a World Cup in November/December 2022 is not ideal because it coincides with the start of World Cup events in FIS competitions.
But he admitted that football simply has the global power to act in this way.
FIFA plans to move the World Cup from its original June/July slot because of the intense summer heat in the Gulf state.
It has reportedly pledged not to clash with the Winter Olympics in February 2022, but a January/early February slot along with November/December appear to be the desired times for the World Cup even though an April/May tournament has also been proposed.
"I wrote on behalf of all winter sports federations to Mr (FIFA president Joseph) Blatter as soon as the Qatar issue arose. Quite strongly, I must admit. The reaction was practically zero," kasper said.
"FIFA think they are gods and act accordingly ... If it turns out to be November or December it would be difficult but we could live with it. But what do you want to do? The only thing would be to remind the (Swiss) compatriots of Mr Blatter that he is ruining winter sport."
Kasper said that Blatter alone was not to blame but rather the entire FIFA leadership.
"Winter sport doesn't exist for his group, his board. FIFA has never listened to anyone. Football just happens to be that strong," he said.
Kasper, 71, has presided over FIS since 1998, the same year the now 78-year-old Blatter became FIFA boss. They are both members of the International Olympic Committee, and Kasper questioned Blatter's intention to seek a fifth term as president in May at then age 79.
"Let's put it this way: I would not stand again at that age," Kasper said, adding he is not ruling out seeking another term in 2018.
The FIS boss expressed scepticism whether the reform agenda of new IOC president Thomas Bach will be successful in making future Games smaller and cheaper.
"I doubt that it will turn back gigantism. It will rather become even bigger because you bring in additional cities. It will be a dangerous balancing act to enforce it," Kasper said.
"A lot can be saved. You must forget everything that is nice to have."
Looking at the running of the world championships in Vail/Beaver Creek which end on Sunday, Kasper praised a smooth organisation but - although skiing has come a long way in the country - had hoped for a bigger response across the United States.
"You have settled a bit more in America. I am disappointed about the response. It's not bad here in Colorado but if you look at the American media across the country its darn little," he said.
"Taking notice of high performance sport is not necessarily important but rather that we have more skiers. If I look back to (the last worlds in Vail) 1989 and 1999 then a lot of progress has been made, including the fans.
Kasper admitted that things may have been even better if Lindsey Vonn had won gold instead of bronze in the championship-opening super-g a week ago.
"Of course a gold medal on the first day would have been ideal. But the excitement for a medal was there, that's the most important thing," Kasper said.
