Football fans told to respect local laws
British embassy issues advisory in wake of indecent video post
Ahead of the World Cup semi-final match between England and Croatia, UAE-based expat football fans were advised to respect local laws during the live broadcast and revelry today.
In a message yesterday, the British embassy reminded 100,000 UK expats in the UAE to respect local customs. “Wherever you’re enjoying the football, ensure that you are aware of and respecting the local laws and customs...,” the embassy said in a statement.
The advisory came after a video emerged on social media, showing a British football fan dancing naked at a pub in Dubai during the England-Colombia match in the wee hours of July 4.
The British embassy has reminded 100,000 British expats in the UAE ahead of the World Cup semi-final between England and Croatia today to respect local laws when watching the match in restaurants and pubs.
Earlier this month, an exuberant British expatriate apparently jumped on to a Dubai Marina pub table in front of hundreds of Three Lions fans and stripped naked. His antics stunned people watching the Round 16 match against Colombia, which England won on penalties in the wee hours of July 4.
A video of the fan was posted online and his long-term prospects in the UAE look grim as Dubai Police investigate the incident. Unconfirmed reports said the man has fled the country to avoid prosecution.
English football fans are in high spirits given it is their team’s first appearance in the World Cup semi-finals since 1990. The last and only time England won the World Cup title was in 1966, making the possibility of England making the final on Sunday an even more emotional rollercoaster.
“We at the British embassy in the UAE have been enjoying this year’s World Cup, particularly the fantastic run that the England team are enjoying,” said the British embassy in a statement yesterday.
“Wherever you’re enjoying the football, ensure that you are aware of and respecting the local laws and customs. For more information on the laws and customs in the UAE, please check the UK’s Travel Advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreigntravel-advice/united-arabemirates,” the embassy said in a statement sent to Gulf News yesterday.
Meanwhile, Dubai Police are investigating the man’s impromptu public shenanigans, a senior officer confirmed to Gulf News yesterday.
A video was circulated on WhatsApp of the man on a table, stark naked with an alcoholic drink in his hand.
The 18-second video shows the man dancing on the table.
Brigadier Abdul Raheem Bin Shafee, director of Al Barsha Police Station, told Gulf News that they are looking into the matter after they noticed the video going viral on social networks. “Such kinds of acts are against the law here in the UAE. It is a public indecency act by the man. There is freedom here, but people shouldn’t abuse the freedom in this way.
“We are investigating the incident and will identify the man and the one who recorded the video and circulated it online,” Brig Bin Shafee said.
“He should know the laws in the country,” the official said, admonishing him for the “shameful behaviour”.