Despite criticism, Qatar 2022 promises a spectacular football spectacle | The Guardian Nigeria News

What it will cost Nigerian fans to watch the matches live

Even before the first ball was kicked off, Qatar 2022 has become one of the most contentious World Cup finals in recent memory, as the host country’s laws and its many restrictions have drawn the ire of many participating teams, the Europeans being the loudest.

While Brazil 2014 was criticized for the long distances fans had to travel to keep up with their teams, Qatar’s numerous bans and restrictions were seen as outrageous by many who felt that agreeing to host such a big competition forced the host to open its doors to different cultures. , even if only for the duration of the event.

It is said that a World Cup is only as good as the football on the pitch and the joy, fanfare and pride that the beautiful game brings to its followers.

A World Cup devoid of freedom of movement and the “carefree” atmosphere usually exploited by lovers of the game is like a well-prepared meal without diners to savor the chow.

Critics had become so fierce that even former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, under whose stewardship the event was awarded to Qatar, joined the crowd.

But is Qatar 2022, whose slogan is “Now is all”, so restrictive?
Qatar insists that the notoriety of their World Cup is unfair. He argues that the critics of his culture are those who want the country to bend to all the rules and precepts of his religion, Islam, to accommodate nonsense.

He sees Qatar 2022, the first World Cup in the Middle East, as an event that promises to help grow the sport, inspire young people, boost tourism, diversify the country’s economy and promote sustainability. And with regional tensions partly eased by the lifting of an economic blockade by neighbors Qatar last year, there are hopes he could prove a unifying force as well.

The hosts have promised that all visitors are welcome, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality, but they also want their laws and culture to be respected, and many LGBT (gay) fans say that they did not receive the security guarantees they needed. .

While some countries have advised gay fans to show “flexibility and compromise”, others have asked Qatari authorities for assurances about the safety of gay people.

A recent Human Rights Watch report that members of Qatar’s LGBTQ+ community have been detained and physically assaulted by the country’s security services has done little to ease tensions. Nor is a World Cup ambassador’s much-criticized comment that homosexuality is “a damage to the mind”. How to reconcile all this with the promise of a “World Cup for all” remains unclear.

FIFA recently advised participating nations to focus on the game rather than getting drawn into every ideological or political battle.

World football leadership is worried about how and where to draw the line. No country is perfect, after all. And his stance has received support from football confederations in Asia and South America.

Nigerians, who are unlikely to want to travel to Qatar in numbers due to the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify, may have been spared the shockingly high costs of going to see the global spectacle.

Researchers say this year’s World Cup is arguably the most expensive ever, with tickets to watch the final at Doha’s Lusail Stadium on December 18 reportedly costing 46% more than those for the final in Russia Four years ago.

As things stand, only the wealthy will find a trip to Qatar affordable. To watch all three group matches, a fan will have to shell out up to $4,710. This includes a return economy class ticket, accommodation with three to four people sharing a room, a COVID-19 test, internal transport and a police report, which is a requirement for entry into Qatar.

Reports say Qatari landlords want World Cup benefits, with most one-bedroom apartments in The Pearl (Doha’s upmarket residential area on a man-made island) costing upwards of $1,000 a night on Airbnb.

However, FIFA and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) built a fan village with temporary cabins, charging around $200 per night.

World Cup tournaments are usually watering holes for revelers, as football matches and beer are known to go hand in hand. But in Qatar, fans will have to be content to take it easy on the colder ones – as hard as that is given how hot it will be there.

According to Times of South Africa, “The 2021 Global Beer Index by Expensivity, Qatar has the most expensive beer prices in the world with an average price of $11.25 for a 330ml bottle”, almost this you would pay for 24 bottles of the same size in some African countries.

But even with the exorbitant cost of drink, fans are not allowed to drink in stadiums. FIFA confirmed on Friday that alcohol would be banned for World Cup fans on the grounds in a major and unprecedented about-face just two days before the tournament kicks off in Qatar.

“Following discussions between the authorities of the host country and FIFA, it has been decided to concentrate the sale of alcoholic beverages on the Fifa Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, eliminating the points of sale of beer from the perimeters of the stadiums of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“There is no impact on the sale of Bud Zero, which will remain available at all World Cup stadiums in Qatar.” He added: “The host country authorities and Fifa will continue to ensure that the stadiums and surrounding areas provide an enjoyable, respectful and enjoyable experience for all fans. Tournament organizers appreciate AB InBev’s commitment [the brewer of Budweiser, Anheuser-Busch InBev] understanding and continued support for our shared commitment to meeting the needs of all during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”

The sale of alcohol is strictly controlled in Qatar, a conservative Muslim country, but organizers had promised it would be available at match venues and fan zones – and also reasonably priced.

However, it has now ruled that alcohol will only be available at games in the hospitality boxes, where the cheapest suites cost nearly $25,000 per game, and some fan zones after 7:00 p.m.

According to reports, the decision was made after the Qataris, as the host country, decided that everyone inside the World Cup stadiums should feel comfortable – and that it wouldn’t be. not the case if fans were seen drinking alcohol or found themselves intoxicated.

Reuters reports that Qatar allows the service of alcohol in certain areas designated as fan zones, but not openly on the streets.

Recently, Qatar 2022 CEO Nasser Al Khater revealed that there would be areas where drunken fans could sober up.
“I know there are plans in place for people to sober up if they’ve had too much to drink,” Al Khater said, adding that it was to make sure they were safe and that they didn’t harm others or themselves and said it was ‘a good idea.’

Al Khater also reiterated that LGBTQ+ fans are welcome and will feel comfortable in Qatar. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, as in many countries in the Middle East.

“Everyone is welcome here and everyone will feel safe coming to Qatar,” he said when asked for his message to LGBTQ+ fans.

When asked if that included gay fans holding hands in public, he replied, “Yes.” He replied “yes” once again when asked if it was a message of reassurance.

Tournament organizers have previously stressed that everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or background, is welcome in Qatar, while warning fans against public displays of affection.

Qatar is a Muslim nation, with laws, customs and practices rooted in Islam. The country is neither as liberal as Dubai in the United Arab Emirates nor as conservative as parts of Saudi Arabia. Most of its citizens are Sunni Muslims.