FIFA has banned the sale of alcohol at all eight Qatar World Cup 2022 stadiums just 48 hours before the tournament starts. The latest development has sparked a massive social media outburst, with several football fans posting memes to mock the Gulf nation.
Just 48 hours before the opening of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, FIFA decided to outlaw the sale of alcohol at all eight stadiums in Doha, despite efforts from sponsor Budweiser to downplay the decision.
Also read: Qatar bans sale of beer at World Cup 2022 stadiums 48 hours before tournament
Moments before FIFA announced that alcohol sales will be restricted to specific "fan zones" where pints cost 12 pounds, are only available at particular times, and are limited to four per person, the beer brand's Twitter account commented, "Well, this is awkward..."
Statement on beer sales at stadiums 🏟️ on behalf of FIFA and Host Country 🇶🇦: pic.twitter.com/o4IEhboXks
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia)It looks like has deleted a tweet commenting on Qatar’s decision to ban the sale of beer at all matches, breaking a promise it gave in order to stage the tournament, & impacting Bud’s contract with . pic.twitter.com/skL4g6dFlJ
— Bill Neely (@BillNeelyReport)Alcohol sales on stadium concourses were originally planned, but they will no longer take place, purportedly due to pressure from Qatar's all-powerful royal family. In hotels and restaurants that have a licence, alcohol will be offered as usual.
The action puts FIFA in conflict with Budweiser, who is believed to have a 75 million-dollar sponsorship deal with the organising body.
Doha officials committed to respecting FIFA's corporate partners when they launched their hosting bid and again when they signed contracts after winning the vote in 2010. However, the dispute may still result in a legal dispute.
According to reports, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the ruler of Qatar, asked for the rule modification to be implemented.
The World Cup 2022, the first to be staged in a Muslim country, has already been dogged by controversy. The current dispute has pitted football's governing ethos and traditional trappings against the hosts' orthodox interpretation of Islam.
Fans in Qatar and on social media reacted angrily and resignedly to the ban. Brian Davidson, the first fan in Qatar to drink an official World Cup 2022 beer, said, "I'm devastated. It doesn't make sense. What's wrong with having a beer at a match?
'Beer wasn't going to be sold inside the stadiums anyhow, just on the concourse."
"Millions of people are coming from all over the world and they just want to watch football, enjoy the sun and knock back a few beers. I'll just have to go to the Fan Zones or a hotel for a drink but it's a real pity that the Qataris have implemented this ban," he added.
This week, FIFA gave the Qatari hosts one leniency regarding Budweiser's accessibility in stadiums. The football governing body agreed to move the Budweiser concession stalls into locations that would make them less noticeable after the organisers complained that they were too prominent. Such adjustments so close to the beginning of a tournament are pretty uncommon.
Just three months ago, FIFA also consented to move the tournament's start date up one day so the hosts would play in the sole match. The new date for Qatar vs. Ecuador game is November 20.
Here's a look at the memes and jokes that flooded Twitter following this shocking announcement:
Soccer fans after ban beer from stadiums. pic.twitter.com/Yw1LoeIaMF
— Emilio Estebantz (@ActingTheGom)Qatar ban beer hours before World Cup launch. This was always going to happen. Ticket holders demand a refund. Beer and football go together like peaches and cream. They should never have been anywhere near this tournament in the first place. Camel racing more their style.
— John Ganges (@dunstablian)we need a hero
one man has the courage to save the world cup
the call goes out for… the beer baron https://t.co/ePb2uvBO3V pic.twitter.com/rGJbKfO32Z
Kuff rattled on a jummah wa simples https://t.co/G4DZxYEbHZ pic.twitter.com/xPlxPO7urw
— ۟ (@luvsicp2)It's ok chaps, Bud Zero is still available... https://t.co/NHTsLfvtfO pic.twitter.com/WmGvZjDjdu
— Sahil Oberoi (@SahilOberoi1)Goodbye, England’s Rose https://t.co/btupbvko8B pic.twitter.com/Y5Yynttygd
— Alexander Fox (@AlexanderFoxEtc)“No impact to the sale of Bud Zero” https://t.co/q1OYw1Xs3K pic.twitter.com/tvZqj2RCMe
— Back Page Football (@bpfootball)Me preparing to watch the Atalanta December friendlies from home. 😅🍻💙🖤 https://t.co/RdiYtjm6Eh pic.twitter.com/tF2uIyxx7n
— Bald In Bergamo (@BaldInBergamo)Enjoy Qatar https://t.co/ihD8v33cly pic.twitter.com/bjwq00Yujn
— Neil Mcbeth (@Neil_Mcbeth)Beer? No!! Hamas? Yay!! https://t.co/Y7so7blSMx pic.twitter.com/1xkxVytJwS
— habibi (@habibi_uk)This is going to be just a slow moving, 50 car pile up. Once Qatar suggested keeping stadiums cool in summer by creating artificial clouds, FIFA should have punted. But… https://t.co/BRI473Hjpv pic.twitter.com/FfeeJ03eKx
— Greg McManus (@gregmclnk)Wow - FIFA and Qatar deciding last minute to no longer allow beer sales at stadiums. 🤯
Changing the opening game was odd. This last minute flex is makes you wonder “what else will change bc it is too late to do something about it” 😕 https://t.co/Ru5xxcvQcJ pic.twitter.com/wNXss743f9
Fans in Scotland: https://t.co/oGwiIznjZh pic.twitter.com/N0KCiwR9Zm
— Matt Rhein (@mattrhein86)England fans in Qatar https://t.co/K0r79Nl29v pic.twitter.com/MpbVUu9hW7
— Tom of War: Ragnarok (@TvVledder)FIFA sponsor reacts to beer ban at stadiums in Qatar pic.twitter.com/U7LN15SQxF
— Marcelo Blackburno (@marcyeboah)The should have been in Australia. Corruption won. The Qatar beer ban isn’t the issue - it’s Qatar cannot keep its word. What else will change that they said wouldn’t happen in the next month? Already heckled and accosted journalists. pic.twitter.com/uCpoMBsddx
— James Davis 🇦🇺 (@jamesdavis____)