Following the announcement this morning that alcohol sales will be banned at all World Cup stadiums , except in corporate areas the FSA has issued a statement that may well become prophetical.
Was anyone truly surprised that FIFA changed it's policies just two days before the start of the tournament, alcohol was set to be available "in select areas within stadiums", despite its sale being strictly controlled in the Muslim country, but suddenly the rules have changed and now the authorities in Quatar are free to enforce an alcohol ban in the stadiums.
This comes as no surprise and smells of this being something that was agreed long ago and not just this morning. It smacks of FIFA agreeing when the deal was signed that they publicly alcohol would be allowed, but that the Quatar authorities need not worry. we will change the rules once all the tickets and hotels have been sold.
Of course alcohol will still be available in corporate areas, so the FIFA contingent will still enjoy a glass or two whilst smugly self congratulating themselves about how they have pulled off one of the greatest rip offs in football's history.
The worry though is that having drawn in the World's football supporters into a country that has very little to offer in cultural entertainment and had draconian laws on many things including homosexuality and women's rights, that the parameters might have changed on these as well as alcohol.
There is a school of thought that people entering a country have to be respectful of its laws and culture, I agree with this, if i went to Quatar or a similar country as a tourist I would respect that, but this is not a case of that, this is a football tournament for the whole world, it is a celebration of football and the if all people cannot go freely and within reason lead their normal lives as they do in their home country ie the LBGTQ community for instance, then a tournament or event such as this should not be given to that country.
The Football Supporters Association have issued the following statement.
"Some fans like a beer at the match, and some don’t, but the real issue is the last minute u-turn which speaks to a wider problem — the total lack of communication and clarity from the organising committee towards supporters.
"If they can change their minds on this at a moment’s notice, with no explanation, supporters will have understandable concerns about whether they will fulfil other promises relating to accommodation, transport or cultural issues.”
A statement which is short and sweet and hints at the fact that if they can back track on this agreement what else will they backtrack on.
Personally, for me this World Cup is tainted, it has sold it's soul to the highest bidder whether legally or as alleged elsewhere, illegally.
For me the only way that football can regain it's dignity is if every player of every squad suddenly declared themselves injured, if the Quatar authorities can do something at two days notice, so can those footballers who proclaim their support of human rights in the media and then do the opposite, time for them to grow some balls and make a statement, one that would send shockwaves around the World .
Don't hold your breath though !