FIFA president attempts a balancing act in upholding World Cup hosts’ culture and rights of sponsors
After a major blow was dealt on the alcoholic sponsors of the World Cup following Qatar’s ban on beer at the stadiums, FIFA president said at the pre World Cup press conference that fans can survive for three hours a day without beer.
Qatar the World Cup hosts in a major U-turn and barely 48 hours to the World Cup kick-off, banned the sale of beer around the stadiums.
Prior to the Friday announcement, dozens of Budweiser beer tents had already been set up at grounds ahead of the of opening match.
“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.”
Fans, meanwhile, were left gasping by the beer ban.
Ecuador fan Diana, 31, told AFP she was saddened by the decision as she would have liked to have had a drink ahead of her country’s match with hosts Qatar which opens the World Cup.
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