Football fans must not be “visibly under the influence of alcohol” or be shirtless at World Cup stadiums in Qatar, according to organisers. Fifa has prepared a “stadium code of conduct” applying to all 64 matches at the tournament in the Gulf state.
A section advises ticket holders about their behaviour at the stadium and runs through a list of things they must not do unless “expressly authorised by the event organisers, where appropriate”.
They include: “Remove items of clothing or otherwise remain in a state of undress (including being shirtless) or reveal intimate body parts. For the avoidance of doubt, body tattoos and body paint do not constitute clothing.”
It adds: “Be visibly under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or any narcotic substance.”
The guidance concludes: “These lists of obligatory and prohibited actions are not exhaustive. The event organisers reserve the right to make a final decision on whether any behaviour within the stadium is prohibited, which must be respected.”
The UK Foreign Office advises visitors to Qatar to “dress modestly” in public and warns it is an offence to drink alcohol or be drunk in public, with a prison sentence of up to six months or a fine among the punishments. With temperatures in Doha forecast to reach up to 30C (86F) in the daytime, fans are expected to be directed to kiosks in the ground for food, water and other non-alcoholic drinks.
Prohibited items are listed by Fifa as including “bottles, cups, jars, cans or any other form of closed or capped receptacle that may be thrown or cause injury”.
The stadium guidance notes “food items of any kind, except if acquired inside the stadium or if they are medically required or for babies or young infants” are also prohibited, a move likely to assist tournament sponsors providing food. It is also bad news for fans of “inflatable balls” and “other inflated or inflatable items, such as balloons” as they are also banned.
Bags must be able to be stored under seats and are deemed “large” if the “sum of three dimensions of length, width and height exceeds 75 centimetres”. Any hopes of a ticker-tape welcome to the players involving loo rolls or other materials look doomed as “significant quantities of paper or any rolls of paper” are a no-no.
A later section stresses any materials of a “political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind” are banned.
Fans have been seen blowing horns in Doha in the build-up to the tournament, although vuvuzelas are also not allowed in the stadiums. The plastic horns were a familiar sound throughout the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, although their constant tooting by fans divided opinion, particularly for those watching on television.
Musical instruments which do “not fit easily” through the X-ray baggage scanner for security screening are prohibited unless fans have been given approval by event organisers ahead of the game. The document adds: “The applicable event organiser may require ticket holders to stop using musical instruments if the sound emitting from the respective device interferes with event operations or the enjoyment of other ticket holders.
“Electronic, mechanical or manual devices that produce noise or other excessively loud sounds, such as vuvuzelas, whistles, loudspeakers etc. heaters for drums are also prohibited.”
