FIFA President Sepp Blatter has announced that he intends to stand for re-election and has explained why he was not surprised that Michel Platini would not be in the running. (3:31)

An official considering a challenge to Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency has suggested 1 a.m. kick-off times could solve the problem of avoiding the heat in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup.

Blatter, meanwhile, has reiterated that the tournament in eight years' time cannot be played in the searing heat of summer in the Gulf state.

Average temperatures rise to nearly 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Farenheit) in Qatar during the World Cup's traditional June-July slot, which has led to calls for the scheduling of the competition to be changed.

Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who is considering standing against the Swiss as Blatter seeks a fifth term at the head of world football's governing body next year, told BBC Sport that the traditional world football calendar may not have to be disrupted for the World Cup, though Blatter appears convinced the tournament cannot be held in the summer.

Qatari organisers have repeatedly stated their intention to fully air-condition stadia in order for games to be played in acceptable temperatures even if the tournament is held in the summer.

Blatter, 78, however, has now called for a winter World Cup.

"We can't play in the summer," he told France Info. "We can lower the temperature in the stadia, but we can't put a roof over the whole country. We have to find a solution. The most suitable date is the end of the year, because if we play at the start of 2022, we run into the Winter Olympics," said Blatter, who suggested November-December as the most likely time slot.

"For me, it's the best solution. We're working on the international calendar. At the start it was possible. Now, it's becoming a little more difficult. But the World Cup is so important."

The decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been widely opposed and led to an investigation into the bidding process. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

Mayne-Nicholls said that the evening start for match times would be less disruptive than a date change for the event.

"You could play the first games at 7 p.m., the second games at 10 p.m. and the third matches at 1 a.m.," the former Chile FA president said. "You'd change everything. It would be a couple of hours behind in Europe, and that would help TV."

He added: "The weather would still be very warm at night, but the sun is not there and that could help. I know it's not easy. We'd sleep during the day and work during the night.

"It's only an idea. You'd have to investigate a little bit more. I have never played in Qatar in May. Let's organise a youth tournament, invite countries from all the confederations, and let's use this time to see if it works.

"Then we can investigate and have conclusions, but we cannot keep talking about Qatar from Zurich, we have to check it. And if this is not a solution then we have to find another one."

FIFA has set up a taskforce to look at the staging of the 2022 World Cup, and the group, which features representatives of clubs, leagues and players, will meet again in November before a final decision is made next year.