Qatar authorities and FIFA have reversed the decision to sell beer to fans around the 2022 World Cup stadiums. The governing body said so 2 days before kick-off.
“Following discussions between the authorities of the host country and FIFA”it was decided to “remove beer outlets from stadium perimeters.” No reason was given for this decision.
The press release adds that the authorities want “concentrate the sale of alcoholic beverages” in fan zones and authorized establishments. This reversal casts a shadow over the previous commitments of the conservative Muslim emirate to host this World Cup.
Lack of communication and transparency
“Some supporters like to have a beer at the game, some don’t. But the real issue is that this last-minute regarding-face illustrates a larger problem: the complete lack of communication and transparency from the organization towards supporters”denounced the FSA, the association of English supporters (FSA) of which thousands are expected Monday for their first match once morest Iran.
It’s also a sensitive topic, as beer maker Budweiser has been a major sponsor of the tournament for 3 decades. In their press release, the organizers of the World Cup thank the AB InBev group, of which Budweiser is a part, for its “understanding” and specify that the brand retains the possibility of selling non-alcoholic beers around and inside the stadiums.
ats/alt