DOHA: FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Saturday that World Cup fans can survive for three hours a day without beer after sales were banned around stadiums.
“I think personally if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive,” he told his opening press conference in Doha. “The same applies in France, Spain, Scotland.”
World Cup chiefs on Friday banned beer sales around stadiums in Qatar in a stunning U-turn, just 48 hours before Sunday’s kickoff.
Alcohol is largely prohibited in the Islamic nation but the organizers sparked fury from fans with their dramatic late decision.
Football’s world governing body FIFA said beer would not be sold to fans around any of the eight World Cup stadiums following discussions with the hosts.
It said beer sales would be focused on fan zones and licensed venues, “removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters.”
It gave no reason for the surprise decision but media reports said there had been an intervention by Qatar’s ruling family.
Dozens of Budweiser beer tents had already been set up at grounds ahead of the first game.
World Cup fans ‘can survive’ without beer: FIFA chief
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World Cup fans ‘can survive’ without beer: FIFA chief
- ‘I think personally if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive’
- Alcohol is largely prohibited in Qatar but the organizers sparked fury from fans with their late decision
Sabalenka sets up potential Raducanu showdown at Australian Open
- Sabalenka is favorite to win a third Australian Open in four years, having been defeated in the final 12 months ago by Madison Keys
MELBOURNE: Top seed Aryna Sabalenka set up a potential third-round showdown with Emma Raducanu at the Australian Open after a straight-sets win Wednesday over Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan.
The world number one saw off the awkward Bai 6-3, 6-1, having threatened at one stage to complete the job in even more express fashion.
Britain’s 2021 US Open champion Raducanu plays Russia-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova later Wednesday at Melbourne Park, with Sabalenka lying ominously in wait.
Sabalenka is favorite to win a third Australian Open in four years, having been defeated in the final 12 months ago by Madison Keys.
“Tricky opponent,” said the Belarusian.
“Super-happy to close the (first) set, it gives me confidence that my game is there, my focus is there.
“Step by step. Super-happy with my win. There is always a little gap to improve.”
Sabalenka won the first nine points in a row to surge into a 2-0 lead at Rod Laver Arena against her outclassed opponent ranked 702 in the world.
After just eight minutes it was 3-0, then 5-0, with Sabalenka seemingly intent on getting the job done in time for an early lunch.
But the 23-year-old Bai, playing the biggest match of her life, worked through her nerves and finally held serve.
She then stunned center court by breaking Sabalenka’s serve to reduce the deficit to 5-2, and doggedly held her own serve for 5-3.
The 27-year-old US Open champion Sabalenka was beginning to show signs of frustration as she saw numerous set points come and go.
She finally got the job done after 39 minutes on her seventh chance, slamming a ball she was holding in her hand down on the court in a flash of anger.
The second set was more serene, Sabalenka’s superior power taking its toll as she sealed the match in 72 minutes.
