World Cup fans ready to celebrate despite stadium beer ban

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Flag-draped followers poured into Qatar on Friday forward of the Center East’s first World Cup as organizers banned the sale of beer at stadiums — a last-minute choice that shocked FIFA sponsor Budweiser however was largely welcomed by the nation’s conservative Muslims and shrugged off by some guests.

This small, energy-rich nation, residence to some 3 million folks and roughly the scale of Jamaica, expects one other 1.2 million followers to fly in for the match that begins on Sunday.

After Friday prayers, the discuss of Doha grew to become the sudden ruling by the federal government to halt all beer gross sales at stadiums.

Many welcomed the choice on this conservative emirate, which follows the identical austere Wahhabi Islam of neighboring Saudi Arabia — regardless of permitting beers, wine and liquor to be offered at discrete lodge bars within the nation. Already, the nation’s some 300,000 residents have criticized the Western excesses of some celebrations and vehemently dismissed criticism of its views on LGBTQ rights.

“The entire motive why I got here to this nation is in order that I can take pleasure in and have the amenities and the benefit of residing in a contemporary economic system, however with Islamic heritage,” mentioned Mohammad Ali, a 50-year-old physician from Sheffield, England, who lives in Qatar. “I wouldn’t wish to see that life-style compromised.”

“I wouldn’t need with my children and my household having fun with my outing and being confronted by a drunken — I’m not gonna say a hooligan — however drunken and disorderly followers,” he added.

Alcohol will nonetheless be served in accommodations, luxurious suites and personal houses in the course of the match. Budweiser continued its work turning a luxurious lodge into a large themed bar. It received’t be low cost: a normal bottle of beer went for a bit of over $15.

In Doha’s Souq Waqif market, 35-year-old Pablo Zambrano of Ecuador shrugged off the information of the beer ban forward of his nation’s opening evening match towards Qatar on Sunday. He’s staying along with his with mom who lives right here and mentioned the fridge already is stocked with beer, which foreigners can purchase legally in chosen depots.

“There’s issues in regards to the alcohol and the ladies with the costume codes,” Zambrano mentioned, referring to the nation’s conservative customs. “It’s completely different. Nevertheless it’s going to be good.”

Zambrano was considered one of a rising variety of followers sightseeing within the conventional market and alongside the Corniche, a seaside boulevard with views of Doha’s glittering skyline.

Simply down the road, 24-year-old vegetable vendor Ajmal Pial from Khulna, Bangladesh, took within the breeze with the town’s skyscrapers stretched out behind him throughout the waters of the Persian Gulf.

However as a substitute of his nation’s inexperienced and crimson disc flag, Pial waved Brazil’s over his head as his pal took photos of him. He and his associates help Argentina and Brazil, two of the match favorites.

For Pial and others, the World Cup represents a pinnacle of labor in Qatar and sure a remaining hurrah earlier than heading residence as jobs gradual. Labor situations in Qatar, like a lot of the Gulf Arab states, have been criticized for exploiting the low-paid employees who constructed this former pearling port right into a desert metropolis.

Qatar has overhauled its labor legal guidelines, however activists have requested for extra to be carried out. There aren’t any ensures for freedom of speech in Qatar, however Pial mentioned he felt genuinely comfortable on the likelihood to see the match.

His pal, 32-year-old Shobuz Sardar, additionally from Khulna, Bangladesh, mentioned a part of that pleasure got here from the truth that it’s solely the second time that an Asian nation hosts the World Cup, 20 years after Japan and South Korea co-hosted the match.

He additionally hinted on the situations he and different employees from Asia can face in Qatar.

“You additionally know that there are too many individuals all right here for work, for jobs,” Sardar mentioned. “They don’t have any possibility for having enjoyable. This World Cup makes them have enjoyable.”

Laborers from the Center East and Asian nations blended with followers marching up and down the Corniche. Throughout authorities buildings and digital shows, Qatar’s deep purple and white flag with its nine-jagged factors appeared to fly almost in every single place.

For Qatar, coming off a yearslong boycott by 4 Arab nations over a political dispute, almost reaching the opening match reveals they had been capable of overcome. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to go to Qatar in the course of the match — exhibiting the shut relationship America shares with a nation internet hosting some 8,000 of its troops at its huge Al-Udeid Air Base.

On the Corniche because the solar set and the decision to prayers might be heard, crowds gathered round a clock counting all the way down to the opening match.

Qatari followers marched and chanted, waving a banner bearing the face of its ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. That very same picture of Sheikh Tamim, with the Arabic inscription “Tamim, the Glory,” might be seen in every single place in Doha in the course of the boycott.

Tarek Mujahid, a 37 12 months outdated from Alexandria, Egypt, praised Qatar for being the primary Arab nation to host the World Cup.

“I’m very, very, very, very comfortable — No. 1 as a result of it’s an Arab nation” internet hosting, he mentioned.

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Related Press writers Nebi Qena and Lujain Jo contributed to this report.

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Observe Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.