The CEO of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has revealed what will happen to people who hold hands during the tournament.
Speaking to Sky’s Rob Harris, Nasser Al Khater insisted that public displays of affection will be tolerated in the Gulf State.
“Look, we’ve always said that everybody is welcome here,’ he said.
“All we ask is for people to be respectful of the culture.
“Everybody is welcome here and everybody will feel safe when they come to Qatar. Everybody.”
However, despite Al Khater’s reassurances, many supporters are still cautious about what they can and can’t do in the Middle East.
Yesterday, it was announced that fans can’t buy alcohol at eight of the tournament’s venues.
The World Cup gets underway on Sunday, with hosts Qatar facing Ecuador.
Fans will not be able to buy beer in or around the eight stadiums hosting games at the Qatar World Cup.
The decision comes just 2 days before the 1st game of the tournament.
Qatar initially asked if the stands for Budweiser, a major sponsor, could be less prominent.
FIFA and Qatar previously reached an agreement that the sale of alcohol would be allowed in a security perimeter outside venues but not inside the stadiums themselves.
“This World Cup is different to others in that a larger number of fans are attending from across the Middle East and South Asia, where alcohol doesn’t play such a large role in the culture. The thinking was that, for many fans, the presence of alcohol would not create an enjoyable experience.
“The fan zones will be different in that some are clearly designated as alcohol-serving, while others are alcohol-free. Fans can decide where they want to go without feeling uncomfortable. At stadiums, this was previously not the case.”
It’s believed the decision is being made following the demands of the Al Thani royal family in Qatar. At the time of writing, it’s unknown if this extends to corporate areas.
Beer will be available in fan zones around Qatar after 6:30pm. Special zones which supporters can use to sober up have been developed.
Hosts Qatar open the tournament against Ecuador on Sunday. Qatar being awarded the World Cup has been a controversial topic since it was announced in 2010.