England fans travelling to this month’s World Cup in Qatar have vowed they will still “get p****d” despite a ban on selling alcohol inside stadiums.
The confirmation came after it emerged the authorities in Qatar had made a last-minute decision not to sell any booze at the eight World Cup venues. It was ratified and agreed by FIFA on Friday - just 48 hours before the opening game between the host nation and Ecuador.
The official England fan group have attacked the ban on the sale of beer at World Cup grounds – although alcohol remains available to spectators in hospitality boxes within the nation’s stadiums – which represented a major U-turn on the eve of the tournament.
The decision has enraged many travelling fans, who had been promised before booking their tickets and accommodation that alcohol would be available within stadiums. However, others have insisted that it just means that their drinking plans would be altered.
"It won't dampen my experience too much because I will just get p****d before the games," one fan admitted to the Sun. "That's the way the cookie crumbles." FIFA had previously had an agreement to sell Budweiser, one of the organisation's biggest sponsors, at the eight different Qatari stadiums.
Yet others have vented their frustration at the alteration. "To be honest I am very annoyed", another Three Lions fan added. "The whole time they have been telling us that you can buy booze in the stadium, which we were all very excited about.
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"Now the day before the World Cup starts we have been told we can't buy booze there. Everyone knows that English people love a drink. Before I would be buzzing before game days and get to the stadiums early and get the drinks in, to get yourself hyped up for the game.
"Now there's no point in getting there early. Just get there when the game kicks off. No drinks to buy so it will be a sober day really."
The Football Supporters’ Association, which represents around 60,000 England fans and fan groups, condemned the decision by stating: “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.”
