Soccer followers banned from consuming acohol in stadiums in the course of the World Cup

Soccer followers attending the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia will likely be prohibited from buying alcohol inside stadiums. This resolution, whereas not explicitly introduced by FIFA, has been confirmed by senior sources throughout the group who spoke to the Guardian.

The ban marks a big departure from latest World Cup tournaments and underscores the challenges of navigating cultural norms in host international locations.

Not like Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, Saudi Arabia maintains a strict prohibition on alcohol gross sales, even inside luxurious resorts. This ban, enacted by King Ibn Saud in 1952, stays firmly in place. Whereas one store in Riyadh at present sells alcohol, it’s solely to non-Muslim diplomats underneath tightly managed quotas and laws. This restricted exception is geared in the direction of curbing unlawful alcohol gross sales amongst diplomats moderately than representing a broader shift in nationwide coverage.

FIFA acknowledges classes discovered from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Preliminary agreements to permit beer gross sales in stadiums have been overturned on the final minute by the Qatari authorities, ensuing within the removing of tens of 1000’s of kegs of Budweiser and substantial compensation funds (£40m) to FIFA’s sponsor, AB InBev. This expertise undoubtedly influenced the choice for the 2034 event.

Conservative tradition and FIFA’s stance

Saudi Arabia’s conservative tradition considerably differs from that of Qatar, the place alcohol gross sales are permitted in particular institutions. Sources near FIFA emphasised that there are not any plans to foyer the Saudi authorities to change its alcohol legal guidelines. This strategy suggests a prioritization of the present regulatory framework over potential strain to accommodate followers’ consuming habits.

The shut monetary relationship between FIFA and the Saudi Arabian authorities is notable. Aramco, the state-owned oil firm, is offering FIFA with a considerable sponsorship of £320m as a part of a four-year deal.

Additional cementing this relationship is the Public Funding Fund’s funding within the streaming firm Dazn, which acquired international TV rights for the Membership World Cup for £800m. These substantial monetary contributions solidify Saudi Arabia’s place as a key accomplice for FIFA.

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