Qatar 2022: a Soccer World Cup with Many Prohibitions

Since the beginning of the century, the FIFA World Cups have undergone changes due to changes in format and organizing committees, but they have also faced various problems that have called into question the realization of the same. Today, five months before Qatar 2022, fans are warned of the many bans they will have to comply with in the Asian country for the first time in history.

If in Germany 2006 it was the fear of war issues; in South Africa in 2010 it was the high levels of crime and the deficiency in public services; in Brazil in 2014, the economic and social protests; in Russia in 2018, the US bombing of Syria and now, will be the rules of an Asian country with a culture very different from the Western one, and which, moreover, will be the first Arab country to organize the event.

This organization has been immersed in harsh accusations of corruption, since in 2010, the former president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, publicly reported that important Qatari authorities allowed him to get 14 votes to beat the United States and thus win the seat. That, without mentioning the multiple accusations for deaths and terrible conditions of the workers in the construction of stadiums in Doha.

Prohibitions: entrance to the stadiums

Qatar is a Muslim country that applies Islamic law. In this regard, the cult of other faiths has certain limitations, so it will not be possible to enter sports venues with books that speak of other religions. Likewise, the entry of pornographic material and alcoholic beverages of any kind will also be prohibited.

In relation to alcoholic beverages, they will be limited in public places and will only be allowed in hotels and restaurants, but yes, without leaving the premises with your glass, much less walking on public roads while intoxicated.

Dress and effusiveness

Fans will have to dress modestly during their stay in Qatar and despite the heat in the Middle East, they will also not be able to expose certain parts of the body. Miniskirts, short pants, and mini dresses, tight or sleeveless shirts, or bikinis will be prohibited in this nation.

The fans who celebrate goals effusively, almost all of them actually, will have to control themselves in Qatar. Displays of affection are frowned upon and fans will be asked to refrain from them, regardless of their sexual orientation. Holding hands or kissing will be limited.

Be careful with…

Relationships outside of marriage, since Qatari laws punish unfaithful with 7 years in prison. In conclusion, it will not be a good place to seduce since sexual relations between people who are not married are sanctioned. In addition, Islamic law prohibits homosexuality, so anyone who reveals their same-sex preferences could be punished and face five years in prison. Qatar will welcome all tourists who want to go see the World Cup, but in return, it asks for respect for its customs.

The logos

The Qatari government also recently stated that it will only allow the use of the 2022 World Cup logo on car license plates issued with special numbers and authorized by FIFA. "It is forbidden to copy and install the World Cup logo on vehicle plates", without authorization from the authorities, and "whoever violates this will be exposed to legal responsibility and will be referred to the competent authorities to take legal action" the Ministry of the Interior of the host nation of the ecumenical event reported in a statement.

The thing is that the Qatar Traffic Administration, following the regulations of other rich Gulf countries, issues license plates with special numbers that are sold at auctions that exceed hundreds of thousands of euros, which is why the authorities decided to issue a special edition of Car license plates with special numbers, according to certain conditions and in coordination with FIFA.

"The car plates that contain the logo of the World Cup are a special version that is dispensed according to specific controls and conditions in coordination with FIFA for new vehicles and auction plates with distinctive numbers only," RPP from Peru replied about what he added. the aforementioned document.

We suggest you read: Wales returns to a World Cup, which teams have had similar droughts?

Other World Cups

A series of consecutive events such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in New York, the United States invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the war against Iraq in 2003, and the growing problem of securitization and public surveillance, harmed the edition of Germany 2006, considered by many to be the best organized in history despite the fact that fans attended it with fear.

In turn, South Africa 2010 will be remembered for the vuvuzelas and their many problems. For example, delays in the delivery of sports infrastructure; deficiencies in services such as transportation, and high levels of crime. In addition, claims from the social sector argued that such an investment was not necessary for a sporting event since there are so many more important social problems.

Brazil 2014 experienced something similar as the country received the 20th edition of the World Cups in the midst of a crisis due to a petition requesting that the president of the organizing committee, José María Marín, -was an active collaborator with the Brazilian military dictatorship– be expelled. There were plenty of economic and social problems.

Russia 2018 was unlucky enough to be held on complicated dates, close to the bombing of Syria by the United States, France, and England, plus the support of Vladimir Putin for the Bashar al-Assad regime. The World Cup was held normally, but with strong security measures and many complications for the LGBT+ community due to rejections by the Russian government.

Prohibitions as such were seen in the first FIFA Women's World Cups, when players were prevented, for example, from taking off their shirts to celebrate – they wear a top under the shirt – and even the mere fact of organizing the event in the category for ladies took many years of struggle.