Soccer fans in Qatar will have a chance to watch the upcoming World Cup, but it won’t be the alcoholic kind.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will kick off on Sunday, November 20, with Ecuador versus Qatar kicking off the festivities.
FIFA announced on Friday, November 18, just two days before it was set to kick off, that beer would be BANNED!
Beer Has Been Banned At The World Cup
MEGA
This means that beer with any kind of alcohol will not be sold in any of the eight World Cup stadiums.
However, non-alcoholic beer will be sold throughout the 64 matches in Qatar.
FIFA released a statement on Friday with the news.
“Following discussions between the host country’s authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on FIFA Fan Festivals, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing beer outlets from … the perimeter of the stadium,” the organization said in a statement.
FIFA Infuriates Football Fans Who Like Beer
MEGA
As you can imagine, many fans, who have paid more to travel to Qatar to represent and watch their country compete, feel MORE.
This includes Budweiser!
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the parent company of Budweiser, is one of the official sponsors of the World Cup.
Taking to Twitter on Friday, the official account for Budweiser tweeted-then-deleted the following message, “Well, this is awkward…”
Budwesier Speaks Out About Beer Ban
Twitter / Budweiser
According to reports, AB InBev pays tens of millions of dollars at each World Cup for the exclusive rights to sell beer.
The company has shipped most of its stock from Britain to Qatar with the expectation of selling products to millions of football fans.
follow New York Post, the beer company’s partnership with FIFA dates back to 1986. They are already in talks to renew their agreement for the next World Cup in 2026 to be held in North America.
Champagne, wine, whiskey and other alcoholic beverages will be sold and served in the stadium’s luxury hospitality area.
Beer is usually served outside the “luxury hospitality area” to regular ticket holders.
MEGA
Fans on Twitter chimed in on FIFA’s sudden announcement.
Someone retweeted Budweiser’s since-deleted tweet and wrote, “Budweiser is the beer brand that sponsored the Qatar World Cup just flipped and decided there was no beer for sale at the venue. This Tweet (now deleted) seems fairer.”
Budweiser is the beer brand that sponsors the World Cup
Qatar simply refused and decided that beer should not be sold in such places
This tweet (now deleted) seems fairer pic.twitter.com/YDb2ItHxEg
— Mihnea Miculescu (@Mihnea) November 18, 2022
Another person tweeted, “Another reason to boycott the World Cup.”
This person suggests everyone buy a Pepsi and just watch the game.
The tweet got an iconic response.
“Pepsi? England fans don’t drink Pepsi before the game ?,” some replied.
In fact, an English football fan spoke to him Daily Mail about the ban.
Alex Todd told the outlet, “It’s crazy. Why is the World Cup here when the basic fun is taken away from you? I expect this will not diminish when most of the England fans are here.”
England’s official fans’ group, the Football Supporters’ Association, released a statement full of grievances.
“Some fans like to drink beer at the game, and some don’t, but the real issue is the last-minute U-turn which speaks to a wider problem – a lack of communication and clarity from the organizing committee towards the supporters,” it read. “If they can change their minds on this notice at a moment’s notice, without explanation, supporters will have understandable concerns about whether they will fulfill other promises related to accommodation, transport or cultural issues.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
