In less than 24 hours before the official opening of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has stressed on the ban of beer near stadiums.
Recall that the Football World body, FIFA abruptly reversed course on Friday and banned beer sales near stadiums in Qatar, a decision that has sparked criticism among Football fans, especially in Western nations.
Reacting to this, Infantino said, despite the stadiums’ ban on beer sales, World Cup fans could go three hours without it each day.
In his words:“I think personally if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive,” he told his opening press conference in Doha. “The same applies in France, Spain, Scotland.”
Alcohol is largely prohibited in the Islamic nation but the organisers sparked fury from fans with their dramatic late decision.
As revealed by FIFA, beer would not be sold to fans around any of the eight World Cup stadiums following discussions with the hosts.
It said beer sales would be focused on fan zones and licensed venues, “removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters.”
It gave no reason for the surprise decision but media reports said there had been an intervention by Qatar’s ruling family.
Meanwhile dozens of Budweiser beer tents had already been set up on the grounds ahead of the first game.
