The FIFA World Cup Qatar will take place from November 20 through December 18, with 32 teams trying to win the title. Due to the high temperatures in Qatar during the summer, this will be the first time that the World Cup has been held in winter. The tournament has been the subject of many controversy. Numerous reports have been made about human rights violations, including the deaths of migrant workers who were working to build the infrastructure for the World Cup.
Qatar is also deeply religious and bans alcohol, gambling, homosexuality, and gambling. Qatar has allowed limited alcohol consumption in certain areas, which has helped to ease the ban on alcohol. Many LGBTQ fans are also concerned about their safety in Qatar due to the laws regarding homosexuality.
While the World Cup chiefs tried to calm the fears of fans they also added caution to respect Qatar’s culture, which has prompted scepticism from fans. A number of other items, including skimpy clothes and sex toys, have been banned by Qatar, further angering many fans.
Here’s a list of banned things at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
2022 FIFA World Cup: Banned Things
One of the major points of contention between FIFA authorities and Qatari authorities is was the sale of alcohol in Qatar. American beverage giant Budweiser has been a major partner of the FIFA World Cup since years. They can sell beer in fan areas, around stadiums, and inside the stadiums. However, Qatar’s laws highly restrict its sale. Qatar finally allowed alcohol to be sold in Doha’s fan zones. Beer will not be served between 06:30 PM and 01:00 AM.
Beer was allowed to sold throughout the day at previous World Cups. Qatar has also introduced a ‘sin tax on alcohol which means a pint of beer could be sold for as high as € 20. The airport will confiscate all alcohol brought in, as well as vapes and other drugs.
Be prepared for expensive prices if you’re off to Qatar…
Beer 500ml – £11.60 🍺
Alcohol free beer 500ml – £7 ❌🍺❌
Water 500ml – £2.30 💧— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) November 13, 2022
Gambling is also prohibited in the country. However, online betting sites have exploded and fans will be able to place safe bets on matches beyond Qatar.
Qatar also bans pornography. Therefore, fans cannot stream pornography or import it into Qatar. Qatar also prohibits the sale of sex toys. Fans could be arrested for publicly displaying affection.
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The safety of homosexual fans attending the World Cup has been a concern. Qatar has made homosexuality a criminal offense. Fans could be sentenced to prison if they are found violating the norms.
The country has also banned the wearing of skimpy clothes as it is against country laws that all non-resident women must have clothing that covers their shoulders, knees, and hips.
Because the meat is prohibited in Islamic countries, Middle Eastern food, primarily non-vegetarian pork will not be available.
What has the official said?
Qatari officials have assured that as long as fans respect the country’s traditions, they will come in no harm’s way. Qatar’s World Cup chief Nasser Al Khater has earlier said, “All we ask is for people to be respectful of the culture. At the end of the day, as long as you don’t do anything that harms other people, if you’re not destroying public property, as long as you’re behaving in a way that’s not harmful, then everybody’s welcome, and you have nothing to worry about”.
Major General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari of Qatar, one of the most senior Qatari officials, stated that homosexual fans are welcome. He warned against the excessive display of LGBTQ symbols within the stadium.
Al Ansari said, “If he (a fan) raised the rainbow flag and I took it from him, it’s not because I really want to, really, take it, to really insult him. Because if it’s not me, somebody else around him might attack (him) … I cannot guarantee the behaviour of the whole people. And I will tell him: ‘Please, no need to really raise that flag at this point.”