DOHA: FIFA World Cup 2022 hosts have been pressurizing the sports organization to ban the sale of alcohol outside the venue. According to reports, the Qatari royal family has decided to reverse their policy of selling alcoholic beer at the stadiums during the event. Instead it has approved for sale of non alcoholic drinks only to fans inside the stadium, an official in the know said.
The ban comes days before the tournament kicks off on Sunday.
Budweiser which is one of the FIFA’s biggest sponsors for the football extravaganza took to Twitter calling the move ‘ Wiered’.
The sale of alcohol is strictly controlled in Qatar. Earlier, an agreement was in place for it to be available outside tournament venues and in fan zones. Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to stage soccer’s showpiece event. The tournament begins from November 20th and will continue until December 18th. In the first match, the hosts will go up against Ecuador.