Organisers of the World Cup in Qatar have cut the daily allowance for paid-for fans - just days before the tournament kicks off.
Hundreds of supporters from across the globe have been controversially hired by the desert state to promote the World Cup due to the lack of spectators attending the tournament. Many fans can't afford to travel to Qatar due to the cost of food and accommodation.
Organisers have created the 'Fan Leader Network' in a bid to promote the heavily criticised tournament. Many people don't believe Qatar should've been allowed to host the World Cup due to the country's poor human rights record, among other reasons.
READ MORE: English fan's house attacked in Dublin ahead of World Cup
These paid-for fans were expected to be offered free travel, accommodation, tickets and a daily allowance in exchange for their enthusiasm and positive social media posts. Yet it appears that daily allowance has been cut from the Qataris' initial offer.
As reported by The Guardian, the organisers will no longer provide a daily allowance - leaving fans facing eye-watering food and drink costs when they arrive in Qatar. The decision will be a blow to those paid-for supporters that have already started their journey.
Some members from the 'Fan Leader Network' have told The Guardian their daily allowance payments have been cancelled - just days before the tournament starts. The opening game of the World Cup is between Qatar and Ecuador on Sunday.
An email from the organisers to the paid-for supporters read: "Due to the recent developments in the media, we are keen to protect our visiting fans from the erroneous misinformed statements regarding 'fans receiving payment for the trip'.
"Accordingly, the daily allowance will unfortunately no longer be issued. The allowance was intended as a small uplift on your own personal funds to assist with refreshments during your stay."
It's believed the U-turn hasn't deterred any of these paid-for supporters from travelling to Qatar, but some of them are concerned about how they will afford to stay there. As reported by The Sun, the average slice of a pepperoni pizza - for example - is £8.
The organisers email continued: "We requested from the outset that you brought sufficient funds to cover your own living expenses and we have committed to cover flights, accommodation and opening match tickets."
The cut in daily allowance is the latest U-turn by the Qataris. It was announced on Friday that alcohol would not be sold around the stadiums, despite organisers promising it would. Several fans made the journey to Qatar based on that promise.
These two U-turns have left many people worried that organisers will break even more pre-tournament promises over the next month - particularly their pledge to ensure all LGBT+ fans will be safe to attend the World Cup. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.
READ NEXT:
Stephen Kenny livid after sloppy defending leads to another loss
RTE's Tony O'Donoghue interrupted by police while filming in Qatar ahead of World Cup
Peter O'Mahony: Ireland hungry to stay ahead of the curve by beating Australia
Roy Keane recalls his 'wet n wild' World Cup 'highlight' that had nothing to do with football
Didi Hamann does not hold back on Stephen Kenny criticism in explosive RTE punditry
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
