The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), has banned the sale of alcohol in its stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
This change is coming only two days before the start of the tournament as the body had earlier approved the sale of alcohol in selected areas within the stadium.
The World Cup is set to start on Sunday when Qatar plays Ecuador which would be the opening match for the FIFA 2022 tournament.
The statement from the football governing body reads, “Following discussions between host country authorities and Fifa, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the Fifa fan festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s Fifa World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters.
“There is no impact to the sale of Bud Zero which will remain available at all Qatar’s World Cup stadiums.
“Host country authorities and Fifa will continue to ensure that the stadiums and surrounding areas provide an enjoyable, respectful and pleasant experience for all fans.
“The tournament organisers appreciate AB InBev’s understanding and continuous support to our joint commitment to cater for everyone during the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022.”
Supporters association criticise the timing of the decision to ban the sales of beer, demanding for proper explanation.
Budweiser, one of the major FIFA sponsors, also put out a tweet saying “Well, this is awkward,” only to delete the post later.
