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Qatar is banning all beer sales at and around its World Cup stadiums, in a dramatic U-turn just two days before the huge soccer tournament begins, world soccer governing body FIFA confirmed on Friday.
“Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a choice has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters,” a press release from FIFA said.
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The conservative, gas-rich Muslim nation doesn’t fully ban alcohol for visitors, but its sale and consumption is strictly controlled. Alcohol is often only allowed in a handful of specifically-licensed hotels and restaurants and away from street view.
Budweiser’s non-alcoholic beer, Bud Zero, will proceed to be sold in any respect eight of the country’s World Cup stadiums, the statement said.
“Host country authorities and FIFA will proceed to be sure that the stadiums and surrounding areas provide an enjoyable, respectful and nice experience for all fans,” it added. “The tournament organisers appreciate AB InBev’s understanding and continuous support to our joint commitment to cater for everybody through the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
The reported decision throws the tournament’s $75 billion sponsorship by major beermaker Budweiser into query and is about to anger many organizers and attending fans already frustrated over restrictions which might be latest to the 92-year old event.
FIFA’s pick for Qatar, a tiny state within the Gulf with a population of three million people and a limited soccer history, to host the 2022 World Cup was controversial from the outset when the choice was made in 2010.
Qatar’s hosting of the tournament, which is anticipated to usher in an estimated 1.2 million tourists, has been marred with controversy and criticism over numerous issues. These include employees’ rights, visitor capability issues, cultural and spiritual restrictions, and the incontrovertible fact that for the primary time in its history, the World Cup is happening in winter relatively than summer resulting from the country’s extreme heat during its summer months.
It is also drawn criticism for last minute changes, including a request to delay the tournament’s start by a number of days that got here only in August, a requirement just last week from the federal government that beer stands be moved further away from stadiums, and at last Friday’s decision to ban beer sales around stadiums altogether, just over 48 hours before the primary match begins on Sunday.
