By Tom Degun at the International Sport Security Conference in Doha
March 14 – Alcohol must be made widely available to fans during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar or they will end up boycotting the event, English Premier League chairman Sir David Richards has warned here today.
The Middle Eastern Arab state were sensationally awarded the right to stage the competition by FIFA in December 2010 but critics have continually pointed out that fans will be disappointed when they arrive due to the fact that alcohol is sparsely available in the country.
Only a handful of luxury hotels currently sell alcohol to their adult non-Muslim customers, while foreign nationals must obtain a permit to purchase small amounts of alcohol for personal consumption.
Sir David (pictured right with chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Haroon Lorgat, who is also speaking here), who is also chair of the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) and sits on the English Football Association Board, said that the situation must dramatically change if Qatar wants to keep the fans happy during football’s showpiece event in 2022.
“There is no doubt that European fans need to learn a lot about the culture in the Middle East but by the same token, people in the Middle East need to learn a lot about our culture,” said Sir David here in the Qatari capital.
“For the English, drinking is our heritage and our way of life.
“It has been for many, many years.
“You see fans at games drinking all the time and really enjoying themselves and that is the way it should be.
“It is the same in other major footballing countries like Germany where people just enjoy themselves.
“So to have a World Cup in Qatar in 2022 where alcohol is not available would be a terrible thing.
“If that is the case, we need to know straight away and give a very, very early warning to the fans that that is the case and that all the hotels are dry.
“I think it would mean that fans would not come which would be a great shame.
“I mean, could you imagine a World Cup without fans from England, Germany, and Scandinavia?
“For me, that is unimaginable.”
Sir David was also critical of the heat in Qatar and said that it could have an impact on fans staying away.
“It is a fantastic place but is obviously extremely hot,” he said.
“Knowing Qatar, they will be able to build all these air-conditioned stadiums that mean the players can play in cool temperatures.
“But they have to understand that fans will come in their thousands and that there must be provisions for them.
“The heat is a difficulty though.
“I mean, you can’t exactly go and sit on the beach for ten minutes.
“You would roast.”
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