FIFA’s resolution sparked criticism from some guests, however many Qatar-based followers – together with households – again the transfer.
Doha, Qatar – Abdulla Murad Ali put his fingers on his coronary heart and mentioned his nation welcomes everybody coming for the World Cup.
The Qatari banker needs soccer followers to deal with the occasion’s host nation as their second house. His solely request? They need to additionally respect its tradition.
“Qatar is an Islamic nation, and alcohol is ‘haram’ [forbidden] in our faith. All we ask is for the world to indicate some ‘ehtaram’ (respect) for our tradition,” he advised Al Jazeera on Monday, a day after the opening match of the match.
Ali was referring to the furore amongst some followers about FIFA’s resolution final Friday to ban alcohol at match venues. Liquor will nonetheless be out there at chosen resorts, bars and the official FIFA Fan Zone.
Nonetheless, the choice by worldwide soccer’s governing authority has been criticised by some followers for its timing. Within the lead-up to England’s first recreation of the match towards Iran on Monday, a couple of disgruntled followers have been seen complaining a couple of lack of know-how for his or her “ingesting tradition”.
Some have been seen asking mall safety, a lot to the latter’s bemusement, for instructions to a spot the place they may discover an alcoholic drink. A number of followers that Al Jazeera spoke to on Friday mentioned they really feel like they've been misled by FIFA.
“If FIFA have been to ban alcohol when Qatar was introduced the host, it might have been completely different,” Federico Farraz, a soccer fan from Portugal, mentioned whereas ingesting a cup of tea in Doha’s Souq Waqif. “Even when the choice got here a couple of months earlier than the match, individuals who have been planning for this journey for years would have understood.”
However for others, the choice — which FIFA mentioned adopted discussions with the host nation — got here as a reduction.
Sonia Nemmas is a Jordanian mom of three women raised in a football-mad family. The household has tickets to a late-night match and is apprehensive about being at a stadium the place drunk followers might probably be in attendance.
“Once we go to different nations, we don’t ask them why we're being requested to comply with their guidelines or respect their tradition,” she mentioned with a shrug. “We simply do it.” On Friday night, the weekend in Qatar, she was out in Doha’s downtown space to take part in festivities.
Her daughters have been along with her, carrying the keffiyeh in a nod to their Jordanian identification, whereas exhibiting their assist for Qatar by carrying the host nation’s flags and hats.
Nemmas referred to the alcohol-fuelled violence that broke out at Wembley Stadium throughout the remaining of the Euro 2020 championship in England final yr. It's not one thing she needs to see in Qatar.
Whereas some England followers have voiced their unhappiness with the ban on social media and in public, others mentioned it wouldn’t cease them from having a superb time.
Ahmed Muhammad, a Doha-based faculty trainer from England, mentioned it was unfair to color all English followers with the identical brush. “England followers are usually proven to be hooligans however that's only a small minority,” he mentioned whereas soaking within the ambiance at Souq Waqif together with his younger son. “The bulk are respectful and do comply with the foundations.”
Muhammed mentioned that whereas there shall be some sad English followers, most would respect the choice and luxuriate in themselves.
That shouldn't be arduous in any respect, prompt Ali, the Qatari banker, who attended the opening ceremony and Sunday’s Qatar-Ecuador recreation. In spite of everything, he identified, individuals who stay in and comply with soccer in Muslim nations do it with out alcohol on a regular basis.
“Being a Muslim nation, this what we would like folks to grasp — you can benefit from the recreation with out a beer in hand,” he mentioned. “Soccer is for everybody, not only for individuals who wish to drink beer.”
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