FIFA president defends Qatar ban on alcohol: You won’t die if you don’t drink beer for 3 hours

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said about the ban on the sale of drinks in stadiums at the World Cup, “I believe that you can also survive if you don’t drink beer for three hours.”

The awarding of the World Cup to Qatar had attracted a backlash due to human rights violations, its negative attitude towards homosexuals, and the mistreatment of migrant workers. Human rights organizations had asked countries not to participate, criticized the names that were advertising faces and supported them.

In September, Qatar announced that it would allow ticketed fans to buy drinks at World Cup matches, around the stadium, three hours before kick-off and up to an hour after the final whistle. Despite this, drinks would not be sold during the match.

Two days before the start of the tournament, the sale of drinks in stadiums was banned with the application of Qatar and the approval of FIFA.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY INFANTINO

FIFA President Gianni Infantino held a press conference in Doha, the capital of Qatar, ahead of the tournament. Infantino responded to criticism of the booze ban and the awarding of the tournament to Qatar.

Infantino, as quoted by media, mainly said the following: “Personally, I think that if you can’t drink beer for three hours a day, you will survive (won’t die).”