FIFA bows to local pressure and bans beer from World Cup stadiums in Qatar
FIFA World Cup Qatar, which takes place from June 18 to July 13, will be the first time that beer will be banned from being sold or drank in stadiums as part of what the tournament’s governing body has called ‘a total change of approach’
Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup came in for criticism on Thursday after the country’s Supreme Commission for Delivery and Legacy was forced to alter its plans on alcohol sales in stadiums as part of reforms of the bid process.
FIFA said a ‘total change of approach’ had been introduced in the bid process as a result of the criticism and that the governing body now wants to see all stadiums stocked with alcohol to avoid a repeat of last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup.
FIFA World Cup Qatar, which takes place from June 18 to July 13, will be the first time that beer will be banned from being sold or drank in stadiums as part of what the tournament’s governing body has called ‘a total change of approach’
FIFA World Cup Qatar, which takes place from June 18 to July 13, will be the first time that beer will be banned from being sold or drank in stadiums as part of what the tournament’s governing body has called ‘a total change of approach’
With no alcohol sales allowed in the stadiums following the World Cup, FIFA’s new approach appears to be aimed at avoiding the embarrassment of last season’s Confederations Cup in South Africa.
South Africa’s government has said it will seek to ban all alcohol sales in the country’s stadiums at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The Confederations Cup was marred by a series of protests by African and Asian soccer fans and supporters of African football’s greats, such as Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba and Nigeria’s Alhaji Kamara, were fined by FIFA earlier this month for breaking World Cup stadium regulations.
World Cup stadiums also had to be cleared of all personal belongings that could obstruct the air space for rival teams and this had led to some World Cup venues being left for hours without fans.
Fifa World Cup Qatar, which takes place from June 18 to July 13, will be the first time that beer will be banned from being sold or drank in stadiums as part of what the tournament’s governing body has called ‘a total change of