Near beer at the World Cup

[rwsaunders]

Unless you’re in an executive box or outside the stadiums, you’ll now be limited to downing a Bud Zero when Messi and Ronaldo are on the pitch. Last minute change of mind by FIFA and the generous hosts.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle...ce-2022-11-18/

[j44ke]

Evidently FIFA was not told about the decision until after it was made.

They also weren’t told about the decision that all British fans have to wear burkas.

[vertical_doug]

I can't wait till a drunk WAG gets arrested.

[BBB]

The absence of beer seems pretty small compared to the various (alleged) human rights abuses surrounding the World Cup.

Here's an example:

https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/17/...nsation-abuses

World Cup in Qatar. The Saudis sponsoring expensive golf tournaments. Certain professional cycling teams. Gotta love sports washing.

[BBB]

I can't wait till a drunk WAG gets arrested.

Maybe Vardy and Rooney will end up in a cell together.

[echappist]

The absence of beer seems pretty small compared to the various (alleged) human rights abuses surrounding the World Cup.

Here's an example:

https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/17/...nsation-abuses

World Cup in Qatar. The Saudis sponsoring expensive golf tournaments. Certain professional cycling teams. Gotta love sports washing.

I highly recommend people give the following David Squires cartoons a glance.

https://www.theguardian.com/football...is-then-are-we
https://www.theguardian.com/football...natural-causes
https://www.theguardian.com/football...migrant-worker
https://www.theguardian.com/football...leblower-story

Those with the misfortunes of having seen my football-related ramblings across the hall probably know that I consume a lot of footie, but I'm not going to spectate this World Cup (despite being a fan of USMNT and having agonizingly watched the team fail to qualify for the 2018 WC). All sportswashers (Saudis, Qataris, the CCP) can go to hell, but in the end, one gets the impression that most won't avert their gazes.

You are right of course in that this is small fries, and it's a scathing indictment on the way of things that the only type of entity that might prevail over Qatar on a grievance caused by the latter is a sponsor that sues Qatar for an eleventh hour breach of contract.

Also, it's not a total absence of alcohol. Apparently alcoholic beverages are available in fancy schmancy suites.

However it has now decided that alcohol will be available at matches only in hospitality boxes, where the cheapest suites are nearly £20,000 a match, and in some fan zones after 7pm, where it will cost nearly £12 for 500ml of Budweiser.

Quite omnishambles of Qatar that it can't even properly play the public relations game...

[Scott G.]

Quite omnishambles of Qatar that it can't even properly play the public relations game...

Qatar's core market is people with a declared income above 10 mil a year,
an 80+ DB and no current Hague warrants. Qatar is rated highly in it's niche.