Just 48 hours before the start of the controversial World Cup in Qatar, football’s global governing body Fifa has confirmed that alcohol will be banned from within and around the eight stadiums hosting matches.
The ban was described as an “embarrassing U-turn” by Jackson Cole on talkSPORT. And it marks yet further controversy following widespread condemnation of Qatar’s human right’s record, especially with relation to LGBTQ+ people and the exploitation of migrant workers.
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Fifa will “now be looking nervously over its shoulders at the prospect of legal action from Budweiser”, said Sean Ingle in The Guardian. The beer giant paid £63m to sponsor the tournament and is “likely to regard this as a major breach of contract”. In a since-deleted tweet, Budweiser said “well, this is awkward…”, just moments before the news became official.
The decision was taken after “the Qataris, as the host nation, decided that everyone inside World Cup stadiums had to feel comfortable”, Ingled added. “It is unclear why they have taken the decision now and not in the 12 years since winning the right to host the World Cup.”
Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris said that the ban came “at the insistence of Qatar's Al Thani royal family”. This opinion was echoed by The Times which said the move “comes after pressure from Qatar’s rulers including the Gulf state’s Emir”.
The decision will “infuriate fans already chafing at restrictions, costs and inconveniences around the event”, said Tariq Panja in The New York Times. Panja added that the beer ban “signalled that soccer’s governing body [Fifa] may no longer be in full control of its showcase event” and instead has “bowed to the demands of the host country”.
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