The organisers of this year's World Cup in Qatar are planning on sending drunk fans to special zones to allow them to sober up.
Qatar has agreed to relax its strict laws on alcohol consumption during the tournament, which starts on November 20 and ends on December 18. It is currently illegal to drink alcohol in public in Qatar, with consumption only allowed in some hotel bars.
FIFA have been criticised for allowing Qatar to host this year's World Cup due to their poor human rights record. Thousands of migrant workers have reportedly died as a result of building the tournament's stadia, a claim the organisers have disputed.
Homosexuality also remains illegal in Qatar, and this season's European football calendar will be halted to allow the World Cup to take place. Many supporters are concerned about drinking alcohol in Qatar amid the threat of a considerable prison sentence.
According to the UK government's official website, "drinking in a public place could result in a prison sentence of up to six months" in Qatar. Yet Nasser Al Khater, the tournament's CEO, has spoken to journalists in attempt to reassure those attending the World Cup.
Al Khater has promised alcohol will be available in fan zones and outside of stadiums during the World Cup, although consumption will not be allowed inside the grounds. The World Cup chief has also revealed their plans to take drunk fans to "safe" spaces.
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When asked by Sky News if the organisers felt under pressure to relax Qatar's laws on alcohol consumption, Al Khater said: "No. Alcohol is available in Qatar.
"It’s more limited than maybe other countries in the world, whether it’s in Europe or the US or other countries in the East, but it will be more available in designated zones in Qatar. We have it in designated zones, as we have promised from day one.
"I know that there are plans in place for people to sober up if they have been drinking excessively; a place to make sure that they keep themselves safe, that they’re not harmful to anyone else, that they don’t get themselves hurt. I think it’s a good idea."
The World Cup organisers have repeatedly asked critics to be respectful of Qatar's culture when pressed on the country's laws on homosexuality, alcohol and public displays of affection. Al Khater added: "All we ask is for people to be respectful of the culture.
"At the end of the day, as long as you don't do anything that harms other people, if you're not destroying public property, as long as you're behaving in a way that's not harmful, then everybody's welcome and you have nothing to worry about."
Al Khater also confirmed that LGBT+ fans will be allowed to display affection and rainbow flags but added: "This is a sporting tournament that people want to come and enjoy. Turning it into a platform of political statements I don't think is right for the sport."
