FANS WARNED NOT TO SMUGGLE ALCOHOL INTO QATAR

QATAR’S World Cup chiefs have warned fans that they will not be allowed to bring alcohol into the country and there will be ‘specific measures’ for anyone who tries to do so. The country’s Safety and Security Operations committee chief refused to answer when Sportsmail asked him yesterday what measures were planned. But the UK Foreign Office advice is that drinking in public can lead to fines of up to £720 or a prison sentence of up to six months.

With 2.5 million tickets sold for the tournament, which starts in November, and a further 500,000 to go on sale later this month, a huge influx of fans will include many attempting to bring in alcohol because the opportunity to drink will be more restricted than at any other World Cup.

The main fanfest at the tournament will only serve alcohol after 6.30pm, despite some games kicking off hours earlier, with England’s opener against Iran on November 21 commencing at 4pm local time. Colonel Jassim Abdulrahim Al Sayed of the Safety and Security Operations committee said: ‘I think alcohol will not be allowed through the airport. There are locations where alcohol will be sold throughout the country.’

Asked what actions the Qatari police planned if fans smuggled alcohol, drank in public or were deemed to be acting antisocially, Colonel Al Sayed did not answer. Pressed, he then said he had not heard the question. Eventually, he said the information had already been released. ‘We are unable to give specific information. You will need to check the press releases.’

With the World Cup 72 days away, the Qatari authorities have still not released information on the hours within which alcohol can be consumed at fan zones other than the main venue. Drink is available at hotels — though it is selling at £11.50 a pint at the Intercontinental Beach hotel, 15 minutes’ drive from Doha’s Lusail

Stadium, venue of the final on December 18. Locals and ex-pats with residency permits are able to buy alcohol to consume within their own homes.

Yasir Al-Jamal, director general of the Qatar Supreme Committee which is responsible for the World Cup, was asked if there were any plans to create places outside of fan zones where supporters could buy alcohol. He said he could not answer. Asked who could, he replied: ‘Whoever is responsible for distribution in the country.’ He added: ‘There is a misconception about alcohol sales in stadiums and designated zones. We are working like any other World Cup, like usual. Very simply, we have always stated that the sale of alcohol will be available in Qatar and will make it available in specific zones.’ The bosses were speaking to mark tonight’s official opening of the Lusail Stadium, where the Saudi and Egyptian club champions will meet in a friendly. Though the stadium is complete, parts of the land outside still resemble a building site.