Qatar officials abruptly ban beer sales at stadiums just days before World Cup begins

FIFA announced on Friday morning that World Cup officials have abruptly banned the sale of alcoholic beer at the eight World Stadiums in Qatar, just two days before the tournament is set to begin.

Said FIFA in a statement: “Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations, and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters."

Drinking in public is not allowed in Qatar, while public drunkenness can be a crime.

It was originally believed that beer sales would be allowed to be sold within the perimeter of each stadium before and after matches. 

It is expected that wine, champagne, and other alcohol will be served in the luxury hospitality area of each stadium, according to the Associated Press. 

Beer is also expected to still be sold at the fan hospitality areas, but only after 7 p.m. local time. 

Budweiser is a major sponsor of the World Cup. 

The concern here is that Qatar had already agreed to a deal to allow beer sales within the stadiums and decided to abruptly change course at the last minute. The country's laws, as well as many human rights issues and the treatment of workers constructing the eight stadiums across the country, have been a major issue ever since they were awarded the tournament.

A couple of weeks ago Sepp Blatter, the disgraced former head of FIFA, said that award Qatar the World Cup was a mistake.