Brazil gave in to FIFA’s ‘arrogant’ demands to change domestic beer laws during the 2014 World Cup.
The South American nation hosted the rest of the world for the prestigious sporting event eight years ago. But the sale of alcohol in stadiums proved a point of contention due to Brazil banning it in 2003 as a way of combating hooliganism.
FIFA claimed stadium beer sales were a key part of the tournament’s tradition and lifting Brazil’s ban was non-negotiable. And despite opposition from some Brazilian politicians, the governing body eventually forced Brazil’s congress into signing a new bill that ended the 11-year ban.
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FIFA general secretary at the time Jerome Valcke said: “Alcoholic drinks are part of the FIFA World Cup, so we’re going to have them. Excuse me if I sound a bit arrogant but that’s something we won’t negotiate. The fact that we have the right to sell beer has to be a part of the law.”
Valcke later backtracked upon seeing Argentine fans cause mayhem in the aftermath of their 1-0 victory over Iran in Belo Horizonte.
He said: “I was amazed by the number of people who were drunken and the level of alcohol. I was a bit surprised.”
Do you think Brazil should have stuck to their own beliefs and ignored FIFA’s demands? Let us know in the comments section.
(Image: ZINGARO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
It comes amid the controversy of 2022 World Cup host nation Qatar deciding with just days left until the tournament not to sell alcohol inside the perimeter of any of its eight stadiums. FIFA performed the astonishing U-turn after pressure from officials in Qatar, which is an Islamic country.
Only non-alcoholic beer in the form of Bud Zero will be consistently on sale at stadiums for the duration of the month-long tournament.
A FIFA spokesperson said: “Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters.”
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