MAHLATSE MPHAHLELE | Alcohol ban did nothing to dampen spirits in Qatar’s stadiums

After months of uncertainty and unease uneasiness, the 2022 Fifa World Cup show is well on the road in Qatar as the action has come thick and fast.

The tiny Gulf emirate stands accused of poor treatment of migrant labourers, bribery and corruption, criticised for its criminalisation of homosexuality and alcohol, as well as issues over women’s rights.

Ironically Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani officially opened the tournament last weekend at Al Bayt Stadium in Doha by calling on people of all races and orientations to put aside their differences.

I respect the practices of the Muslim faith and that Qataris are entitled to decide how visitors conduct themselves so they don’t undermine their religion.

Qatar made an investment reported to be in the region of $229bn (R4-trillion) to build infrastructure and keep their promise to deliver a smooth tournament and improve their reputation.

After all the accusations, the fears and unease, football has taken centre stage with teams aiming to dethrone France from the title they won in Russia just more than four years ago.

Having worked for Fifa in the 2010 World Cup in SA, attending matches in Doha at Lusail Stadium and Al Bayt Stadium, I was hugely impressed with the Local Organising Committee’s (LOC) organisation.

There was widespread fury when Fifa announced two days before the World Cup that no alcohol will be sold at the eight stadiums and during the 64 matches, but fans appear to have adjusted to the ruling.

The atmosphere in the matches I attended between Brazil and Serbia, England and US, Argentina and Mexico and Spain and Germany has been nothing short of magic. Alcohol is readily available at most hotels, and speaking to some fans at stadiums and on the streets, they are not really bothered too much that they are not allowed to drink inside stadiums.

Most travelling fans are opposed to the country’s strong stance on homosexuality, addressing women’s rights and the reported abuse of the migrant workers who built these stadiums.

As expected, fans are not willing to speak on the record in condemnation of the country’s rulers and Fifa for fear of victimisation, but there is a general feeling things could be better.

On the field of play, it is worth mentioning Qatar have become the first World Cup host country to be eliminated with successive defeats — to Ecuador and Senegal.

The football has been of a generally high standard and pleasing on the eye as teams continue with their quest to be crowned champions on December 18 at Lusail Stadium.

The tournament will surely gather steam in the coming days despite superstars such as Sadio Mane (Senegal), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Paul Pogba (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Martin Odegaard (Norway) and N’golo Kante (France) missing in action.

I sympathise with anyone whose basic rights have been trampled on by the hardline stance of Qatar’s leaders and law enforcement. While I fully respect the country’s Muslim faith, I hope some of the rules will be brought in line with the modern era for the sake of Qataris’ children. I did not personally experience anything that made me uncomfortable on the streets, at the hotel or at the stadiums.

The Qatar World Cup show is on the road and stakes could not be higher for this small but ambitious nation.

There has been calls for the country and Fifa’s leadership to ensure all visitors are welcomed and enjoy their stay, but there have been sporadic reports of heavy-handedness by law enforcement.

One hopes the hosting of the World Cup and accompanying floodlight that has been shone on issues raised by the LGBTQI community and reported deaths of hundreds migrant workers on construction sites, must not be in vain and that such problems in Qatari society are addressed.

*Mahlatse Mphahlele was in Doha as a guest of SuperSport.