"We want beer": the chant of the Ecuadorian fans in the opening match of the World Cup

His team comfortably beat Qatar (0-2), but the Ecuadorian fans who traveled to Doha were not entirely happy.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
20 November 2022 Sunday 23:33
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"We want beer": the chant of the Ecuadorian fans in the opening match of the World Cup

His team comfortably beat Qatar (0-2), but the Ecuadorian fans who traveled to Doha were not entirely happy. "We want beer, we want beer", they repeatedly shouted before the silence of the local fans, thus expressing their complaint that FIFA, at the request of the Qatari authorities, has prohibited the sale of alcohol in the vicinity of the stadiums of this 2022 World Cup.

The opening match of the World Cup had little history. Ecuador dominated from the beginning and Qatar never put them in trouble, so part of the spotlight moved to the stands. And there, while the local fans left their seats en masse minutes before the final whistle, the visiting supporters amused themselves with various chants, including the request for beer.

FIFA announced this past Friday, two days after the start of the World Cup, that it was changing its decision and prohibiting the sale of alcohol in the vicinity of the eight World Cup stadiums. "The authorities of the host country and FIFA will continue to ensure that the stadiums and surrounding areas provide a pleasant, respectful and enjoyable experience for all fans," they argued.

In this way, in the stadiums there will only be non-alcoholic beer and the sale of alcohol in Qatar, throughout this next month, will be restricted to some meeting points for fans, licensed spaces and certain hotels and restaurants, always at a high price. It should be remembered that the sharia, Islamic law, which restricts the sale and consumption of alcohol, governs the emirate.