At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the host country’s ban on public drinking and casual sex will be enforced. As a result, parties and other social events, which characterise the largest football tournament in the world, will be absent.
In accordance with its Sharia principles, the State of Qatar has a lengthy ban on sex between unmarried individuals and the public drinking of alcohol, and those who violate the restriction risk up to seven years in prison.
The Daily Star reports that the country intends to implement the restriction and not exclude foreign supporters who would be in the country for the length of the event.
“Sex is very much off the menu, unless you are coming as a husband and wife team. There definitely will be no one-night stands at this tournament.
“There will be no partying at all really. Everyone needs to keep their heads about them, unless they want to risk being stuck in prison.
“There is essentially a sex ban in place at this year’s World Cup for the first time ever. Fans need to be prepared,” a police source added was quoted as stating.
Apart from a law against drinking in public and sex between unmarried people, Qatar also forbids anyone from being publicly intoxicated. Public display of affection between men and women, even if married, is also a crime, and one should not be caught wearing revealing clothing in public.
“With very strict and scary consequences if you are caught. There is a feeling this could be a very bad tournament indeed for fans,” a source said.
Although FIFA has stated that “all are welcome” at the tournament, there have been growing speculations this might not be the case with Qatar’s tough regulations.
Earlier, the country had announced that same-sex couples and display of insignia related to the LGBTQ+ movement remained banned.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of the Qatar FIFA 2022 World Cup, Nasser al-Khater, had stated that “The safety and security of every fan is of the utmost importance to us.”
