Watch: Mexican fan tries to sneak in alcohol inside the stadium during FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Qatar authorities shocked football fans with a huge announcement regarding the consumption of alcohol during the event. It was announced that the fans travelling to the country to watch FIFA World Cup matches will not be allowed to consume alcohol in the host nation. While the sale of all beer with alcohol at the eight World Cup stadiums was banned, non-alcoholic beer was made available at the 64 matches in the country.
The decision was met with severe criticism from fans all across the globe. As fans tried their best to cope with FIFA’s decision to impose a ban on alcohol consumption in Qatar, some football fans were seen attempting bizarre tactics to try and sneak liquor into Qatar stadium without getting caught.
Recently, a video went viral in which a Mexican fan tried sneaking booze into Qatar stadium during the Mexico vs Poland match by hiding it in his binoculars. In the video, a security officer can be seen checking the binoculars as the fan argues that they are being used to carry hand sanitisers. He later had his binoculars confiscated by the police while entering the stadium.
Watch the video here:
Qatari security confiscates binoculars a fan used to hide an alcoholic drink in. https://t.co/btLUYz4F8T
— FT90Extra (@FT90Extra) November 23, 2022
FIFA released a statement on November 18 announcing that host country Qatar was banning the sale of beer outside all eight FIFA World Cup 2022 venues. According to an AP report, other forms of alcohol such as champagne, wine and whiskey will still be served in the luxury hospitality areas of the stadiums.
FIFA, in its statement, said, “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 … stadium perimeters.”
When Qatar launched its bid to host the World Cup, the country agreed to FIFA’s requirements of selling alcohol in stadiums, and again when signing contracts after winning the vote in 2010. An agreement was announced in September for beer with alcohol to be sold within the stadium perimeters before and after games.
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