A FIFA official has claimed Qatar have lost the right to host the World Cup in 2022 - sending football fans on Twitter into meltdown today.

The term "Qatar" has been trending on the social networking site for hours after FIFA executive committee member Theo Zwanziger made the shock comments.

The ex-president of the German FA said scorching temperatures in the Middle East country meant the 2022 World Cup would take place somewhere else.

Speaking to Sport Bild, he said: "Medics say that they cannot accept responsibility with a World Cup taking place under these conditions."

The World Cup is typically held every four years in June and July - during those months temperatures in Qatar can reach as high as 50C.

FIFA official Theo Zwanziger has claimed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not take place[GETTY].

Medics say that they cannot accept responsibility with a World Cup taking place under these conditions

Sepp Blatter has previously said he wanted the 2022 Qatar World Cup to happen in the winterSepp Blatter has previously said he wanted the 2022 Qatar World Cup to happen in the winter [GETTY]

The Qatar World Cup organisers have previously insisted they can hold the tournament during those months thanks to cooling technologies in stadiums.

But there were still widespread concerns about the safety of players and visiting fans.

Mr Zwanziger said: "They may be able to cool the stadiums but a World Cup does not take place only there.

"Fans from around the world will be coming and travelling in this heat and the first life-threatening case will trigger an investigation by a state prosecutor.

"That is not something that FIFA Exco members want to answer for."

FIFA President Sepp Blatter last July said he would ask to move the World Cup in Qatar to the winter instead of the summer.

These comments were also supported by FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke earlier this year.

The potential date changed sparked widespread outcry from football fans as it would affect the fixtures in domestic leagues all over the globe.

The World Cup is held when teams enjoy their off season and holding the tournament in the summer would affect hundreds of teams schedules.

The possibility of Qatar losing the right to host the 2022 World Cup was welcomed by the vast majority of football fans on Twitter.

Liam O'Brien tweeted: "If #Qatar really lost the world cup then today I am having a good day."

Tariq Sharif posted: "Thank God Qatar got stripped of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022. #theyneverdeservedit".

While Anis Tabet wrote: "I hope they cancel Qatar 2022. It's been a disaster since day one."

Qatar have also been criticised for the conditions they provide migrant workers who have been building stadiums for the tournament.

News the 2022 Qatar World Cup may not happen was welcomed on Twitter [GETTY]

A recent report from the Qatari government shockingly found almost 1,000 migrants workers have died in the Middle East country in 2012 and 2013.

Some 964 died from unexplained sudden illnesses.

The Guardian earlier this year claimed some 185 Nepalese workers died in 2013 while working on Qatar World Cup stadiums.