5/18/2023 0 Comments Fifa 11 plus poster![]() His comments were criticised by several fan groups and anti-discrimination bodies. In April, Major General Abdulaziz Abdullah al-Ansari, a senior security leader in Qatar, said rainbow flags could be confiscated from supporters, claiming it would be to protect them from violence by anti-LGBT+ fans. In response, a spokesperson for the tournament organisers in Qatar said this would be addressed before the games begin: “More than 100 hotels in Qatar that will accommodate visiting football fans, players, officials and other core stakeholders will be required to comply with the Sustainable Sourcing Code.” However, in May this year, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish reporters contacted 69 hotels on FIFA’s official list of hotels, pretending to be a newlywed gay couple - and found three did not accept their attempt to make reservations, while 20 more asked them to avoid publicly demonstrating their sexuality. Though sex between unmarried couples is not permitted in Qatar, the government said unmarried couples will be allowed to share hotel rooms, regardless of sexuality. However, in September, English Football Association chief Mark Bullingham said he had been assured that LGBT+ England fans would not be arrested at the tournament for holding hands or kissing in public. In 2013, Hassan Al-Thawadi, head of the Supreme Committee for delivering the World Cup, was criticised for saying that everybody was welcome at the event, so long as they refrained from public displays of affection. One of the core arguments against Qatar hosting a World Cup is its ban on homosexuality, punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine. While musical instruments smaller than 60cm x 40cm are allowed, these are not allowed to “interfere” with the event. Large banners will be allowed, but these need to be pre-approved by the national association or World Cup organisers - “offensive or political messaging” is not permitted. Organisers say that the prices could reduce the prevalence of such activity - while also asking supporters to remember that the fan zones could include local families. Similarly, the prospect of beer-throwing and tossing alcohol in the air to celebrate a goal is frowned upon without being explicitly banned. For example, walking shirtless around families in the street is different to whipping your top off in the stadium at the spur of the moment after seeing your team score.Īcross the tournament, police have been asked to govern with a “soft touch” - although with forces drawn from several countries, the uniformity of their actions is not guaranteed. This is something which could be policed by authorities - but the implementation of these laws is expected to depend heavily on context. There will also be a 40,000-capacity fan zone in capital city Doha, where drinking can take place from 6.30pm, plus the ‘Arcadia Spectacular’ event - a festival featuring “internationally renowned artists and DJs” - in which fans will be able to drink alcohol pretty much round the clock, between 10am and 5am the next day. However, only soft drinks will be allowed in view of the pitch, as at Premier League matches. Despite this, organisers confirmed in September that alcohol will be served in “select areas within stadiums” during the tournament. This will be the first World Cup held in a Muslim country where alcohol is not widely available but is instead only served in licensed places, such as some hotels and restaurants. ![]() Whether this has major effects on fan behaviour will be interesting to see, with plans still being finalised by authorities with just over a week to go until the opening game. While this will not be a ‘dry’ World Cup, alcohol availability will be significantly reduced compared to its predecessors. Possibly the largest point of departure from any previous tournament. To provide some clarity, The Athletic has gone through Qatar’s laws to clarify exactly what will be permitted during the tournament. No, alcohol hasn't been banned – in fact drinking rules have been relaxed – neither has music, dating, loud noises or profanity. This infographic being shared thousands of times – by many accounts. It turned out that poster was produced by a Qatari citizen group rather than anyone official and it was called “factually incorrect” by Qatar’s tournament organisers, but its wide distribution illustrates why some fans are still unsure about what they can and cannot do at this World Cup. An example of why supporters are confused came in early October, when a poster went viral on Twitter saying visitors to Qatar should show respect by refraining from homosexuality, dating, drinking alcohol and “immodesty”.
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