World Cup 2022 controversial moments: Iran’s powerful protest, Germany’s gag, FIFA hypocrisy
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz has delivered a withering takedown of Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann, demanding the World Cup winner be sacked and calling him a “disgrace to football”.
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Iran coach Carlos Queiroz called German great Jurgen Klinsmann “a disgrace” and demanded he resign from FIFA’s Technical Committee over a savage commentary assessment in a dramatic post-script to their 2-0 victory over Wales.
Iran had bounced back from their opening game thrashing at the hands of England to defeat Wales and put themselves in with a strong shot at reaching the Round of 16 ahead of their final group game against the USA.
But, in his role as a commentator for BBC, Klinnsman highlighted several fouls from Iranian players during the game, accused them of gamesmanship and said they “worked the referee”.
“Carlos fits really well with the national team and their culture, he failed in South America with Colombia and then failed to qualify with Egypt, and he came in right before the World Cup with Iran, where he worked for a long time,” Klinsmann said.
“It is not by coincidence, it is part of their culture, how they play.
“They worked the referee. They work the linesman and fourth official, they are constantly in their ear. There were a lot of incidents we didn’t see. This is their culture, they take you off your game.”
In response, Queiroz took to social media to brand the World Cup winner, and former Germany and USA national coach, a “disgrace to football”.
“Even not knowing me personally, you question my character with a typical prejudiced judgment of superiority,” Queiroz wrote.
“No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch, those remarks about Iran culture, Iran national team and my players are a disgrace to football.
“Listen from our players how much they love and respect football.
“At the same time, we just want to follow with full attention what will be the decision of Fifa regarding your position as a member of the Qatar 2022 technical study group. Because, obviously, we expect you to resign before you visit our camp.”
Klinsmann attempted to cool the situation on Sunday when he fronted BBC Breakfast to clear the air and suggest his comments were overblown.
“I will try to give him a call and calm things down,” Klinsmann said.
“I have never criticised Carlos or the Iranian bench. Some even thought I was criticising the referee because he didn’t do anything about the way they were behaving on the bench.
“All I described was their emotional way of doing things, which is actually admirable in a certain way. The whole bench lives the game. They’re jumping up and down and Carlos is a very emotional coach, he’s constantly on the sidelines trying to give his players all his energy and direction.”
FOOTBALL’S DARK DAY: IRAN FANS EXPOSE WORLD CUP POLICE
Football fans believed to be from Iran have taken to social media to expose the unbelievable treatment they have endured at the hands of police at the World Cup for wearing #WomanLifeFreedom T-shirts.
Arrested and detained for hours after Iran beat Wales 2-0 in their second group match, Saeed Kamalinia described what he and his peers were put through as a “dark day for football”.
“A dark day for football fans and FIFA,” he wrote on Twitter.
“We are just being released from police station 4 hrs after finish of the game, while 3 of our friends still are in custody. Crime? Wearing #WomanLifeFreedom T-shirts. Are you watching @FIFAcom @FIFAWorldCup
A dark day for football fans and FIFA. We are just being released from police station 4 hrs after finish of the game, while 3 of our friends still are in custody. Crime? Wearing #WomanLifeFreedom T-shirts. Are you watching @FIFAcom@FIFAWorldCup
— Saeed Kamalinia (@skamalinia) November 25, 2022
“They were not violent to us; actually tried to be nice but another person was dragged on the ground when being arrested for wearing the Royal flag (ShiroKhorshid)T-shirt.
“They are very strict about taking videos and that’s why not many news come out but the situation is horrible.”
Iran fans have been part of multiple protests in Qatar in a bid to shine more light on Mahsa Amini’s death. She died while in the custody of Iran’s morality police in September, sparking anti-government protests.
The Iranian football team also protested in their opening match against England by boycotting their national anthem.
Kamalinia added an image of fans with posters bearing Amini’s name with the caption: “How is this harming anybody? Which one is a violation @FIFAcom ? #WomanLifeFreedom ? #MahsaAmini Name of the 22-yr young killed in custody?
“#Voria the soccer player arrested for supporting his people? Choosing your outfit? The picture was taken minutes before we were detained.”
Earlier on Saturday, a woman wearing a T-shirt with Amini’s name was prevented from wearing it to the match while another was confronted by security after she held up a shirt bearing the name Amini.
How is this harming anybody? Which one is a violation @FIFAcom ? #WomanLifeFreedom ? #MahsaAmini Name of the 22-yr young killed in custody? #Voria the soccer player arrested for supporting his people? Choosing your outfit? The picture was taken minutes before we were detained pic.twitter.com/OSC7K7jIF9
— Saeed Kamalinia (@skamalinia) November 26, 2022
‘GENOCIDAL ACT’: WORLD CUP PHOTO EXPOSES OBSCENE HYPOCRISY
Captains are not allowed to wear one love armbands, fans are being told to remove rainbow clothing and Iranian supporters were stripped of anything that branded Mahsa Amini’s name, yet Serbia have got this through?
Journalists and fans have called out the obscene hypocrisy of FIFA after images from the Serbian locker room were published on social media.
The Kosovo Sports Minister has also protested after photos showed the Serbia team hung a flag in their changing room at the World Cup reclaiming his country.
Hajrulla Ceku tweeted his anger at “disgraceful images from Serbia locker room, displaying hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages towards Kosova, while exploiting FIFA World Cup platform”.
The photograph was taken in Serbia’s dressing room before they lost 2-0 to Brazil.
It showed, hanging from two player lockers, a version of the Serbian flag with a map including Kosovo as part of the country and stamped with the slogan “there will be no surrender”.
“We expect concrete actions from FIFA considering that (Kosovo) is a full FIFA and UEFA member,” added Ceku.
Kosovo joined FIFA and European confederation UEFA in 2016.
Disgraceful images from #Serbia locker room, displaying hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages towards #Kosova, while exploiting #FIFAWorldCup platform.
— Hajrulla Çeku (@HCeku) November 25, 2022
We expect concrete actions from @FIFAcom considering that the @FFK_KS 🇽🇰 is a full FIFA and UEFA member. pic.twitter.com/xwu6i0j7dG
No politics? @FIFAWorldCup bans European teams having #OneLove human rights armbands, yet Serbian team’s locker room adorned with the map of Kosovo, with superimposed Serbian flag & a call “No Surrenderâ€. Kosovo is an equal member of @FIFAcom folks. Obscene. #WorldcupQatar2022pic.twitter.com/ohpGZSgoeQ
— Petrit Selimi (@Petrit) November 24, 2022
The Kosovo Football Federation (FFK) announced that it had filed a complaint with FIFA against “Serbia’s aggressive action”.
“Such a chauvinist act has no place at sporting events and even less inside establishments where the biggest world football event is taking place,” said the FFK in a press release on their website.
“It is unacceptable that this act is passed over in silence and we insistently demand that FIFA strictly apply its rules and punish the Serbian Football Federation for this aggressive act contrary to the values that football transmits”, added the FFK.
Serbian propaganda all the way to #Qatar. Something for @FIFAcom to investigate? Why a map of #Kosovo in the flag of Serbia hangs in the Serbian dressing room… pic.twitter.com/smlmL5zoCL
— Behgjet Pacolli (@pacollibehgjet) November 25, 2022
STAR: WHY PULLING OUT OF ARMBAND PROTEST WAS THE RIGHT CALL
Wales manager Rob Page ruled out emulating Germany’s pre-match protest against FIFA’s stance on the “OneLove” rainbow armband when his team face Iran in a crucial World Cup Group B clash on Friday.
Germany’s players made headlines before Wednesday’s shock loss to Japan when the team lined up for their pre-match photo with their hands covering their mouths after FIFA’s threat to sanction players wearing the armband.
Wales were one of seven European nations, including Germany and England, who backed down from having their captains wear the armband, seen as a gesture of solidarity for LGBTQ rights.
Page said Thursday that while Wales remained committed to supporting inclusivity, there was no chance of Welsh players mirroring Germany’s protest — even suggesting Germany may now regret the gesture after their defeat to the Japanese.
“I want my players to be fully focused on playing games of football and winning games — and I’m sure now Germany in hindsight would probably have the same message,” Page said.
Wales skipper Gareth Bale echoed Page’s remarks, adding that had he incurred an automatic yellow card for wearing the armband in Monday’s 1-1 draw with the United States, he would have been sent off before halftime. Bale was booked in the first half against the Americans.
“We weren’t too happy about not being able to wear it,” Bale said. “Obviously with the sanctions that could have been put in place — I know people said I should have worn it but I would have been sent off after 25 minutes.
“Of course we support it, but we are here to play football. Just by not wearing the armband doesn’t mean we don’t support it. We are all for equality.”
Meanwhile Page said Wales were bracing for a backlash from Iran, who were thrashed 6-2 by England in their opening game.
“Iran will want a reaction from their team so we’ll be fully prepared for that,” Page said.
HAZARD SAYS GERMANY SHOULD HAVE FOCUSED ON FOOTBALL
Eden Hazard has told Germany they should have focused on the football rather than “political messages” after they lost to Japan.
The German players covered their mouths for the pre-match team photo ahead of their clash with the Samurai Blue, which they lost 2-1.
They were expressing how they felt silenced by FIFA after the governing body threatened the team with sporting sanctions if they wore the OneLove rainbow armband.
It drew praise from many across the footballing landscape – but Real Madrid star Hazard was not so impressed.
The Belgian said: “Germany’s gesture? They would’ve done better if they didn’t do it and tried to win.
“We’re here to play football, I’m not here to convey a political message.”
Swiss star Granit Xhaka agreed with Hazard.
The Arsenal midfielder said: “I don’t think we need to do anything as the Swiss team.
“We need to respect the rules and concentrate on our football, that’s all I intend to do.
“We’re here to play football and not hand out lessons to anyone.”
The defeat leaves Germany’s World Cup hopes in dire straits after just one game.
They had looked on course to get their campaign off to the perfect start when Ilkay Gundogan put them ahead from the spot.
NETHERLANDS DETERMINED TO FOCUS ON FOOTBALL
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has confirmed his team will not mirror Germany’s mouth-covering protest before their second World Cup group game against Ecuador on Friday.
Germany performed the gesture during their team photo prior to Wednesday’s shock 2-1 defeat against Japan.
The German protest came after they were forced to abandon plans for skipper Manuel Neuer to wear a rainbow-themed “OneLove” armband following threats of on-field disciplinary action by FIFA.
Captains of several European nations had initially hoped to wear the rainbow armbands, which had been viewed as a symbolic protest against laws in World Cup host nation Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal.
The Dutch camp has said they will not discuss any issues other than football since they invited a group of migrant workers to a training session at their base in Doha last week.
And Van Gaal doubled down on that decision ahead of a Group A clash in Doha between two teams who both won their opening matches at the tournament.
“We are here to become world champions,” Van Gaal said at his pre-match press conference.
Netherlands fullback Denzel Dumfries added: “Last Thursday we welcomed the migrant workers. It was a wonderful evening for them and us.
“We have made statements but we came to Qatar to play, and that’s what we are focusing on. We have said what we need to say but from now on we need to concentrate on playing football.”
Van Gaal had said on the eve of the tournament that he had “no problem” with supporters in the Netherlands who chose to boycott the World Cup due to their views on human rights issues in Qatar.
However, he also said he hoped his players would perform well enough to persuade fans to tune into their games.
“In the Netherlands for a long time it has been about human rights and perhaps rightly so, but also maybe not rightly so,” Van Gaal added.
HOW IRAN PLAYERS BECAME PART OF ‘GEORGE FLOYD MOMENT’
Controversy over the “One Love” armband has overshadowed more meaningful – and potentially much more dangerous – World Cup protest.
Iran players were silent as their national anthem was played ahead of their clash with England on Tuesday in an apparent show of support for the protest movement that has dominated the country since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
While praised by millions for their bravery in making such a public stand, the message from back home was more sinister.
Mehdi Chamran, the chairman of Tehran city council, said: “We will never allow anyone to insult our anthem and flag.
“Iranian civilisation has a history of several thousand years, this civilisation is as old as the total of European and American civilisations.”
England vs. Iran
— AMoreBalancedWorld (@ambworld15) November 24, 2022
World Cup#WomenLifeFreedompic.twitter.com/N69rW95IU2
On September 13 Amini, an aspiring 22-year-old lawyer, was arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab in a way that made some of her hair visible. Three days later, she was dead. Eyewitnesses said she was beaten to death in police custody.
Police claimed she died of heart failure, but the Iranian people weren’t convinced. Since details of her demise emerged, tens of thousands of people have exploded onto streets in 155 cities across Iran, chanting “Woman, Life, Freedom.” Police have used violence to subdue the uprising, leading to the deaths of hundreds of protesters.
The death of a citizen in police custody represents a potential “George Floyd” moment for Iran, Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, told America’s NBC News, in reference to the death of a 46-year-old black man at the hands of American police in 2020 that sparked huge public protests.
Iran lost in its opening World Cup match against England 6-2. It’s next test comes against Wales at 9pm Friday. And the world will be watching.
Germany’s powerful ‘gag’ protest stuns World Cup
Germany made a powerful statement about being gagged ahead of their World Cup opener, while outspoken Socceroo Jackson Irvine expressed his sympathy for the seven European nations thrown into controversy.
But Jackson says, from his discussions, the LBGTQI+ community feel the One Love armband lacks “a real statement in what it’s trying to achieve”.
Through their first two weeks in Doha, Australia have steadfastly dead-batted questions about their own statement video, released last month, that highlighted Qatar’s questionable human rights record – insisting they only had a focus on football.
On Wednesday, in the wake of Australia’s 4-1 opening game defeat to France, Irvine ripped that Band-Aid off, as the controversy surrounding FIFA snap decision to ban players from wearing the all-inclusive rainbow armband clouded the World Cup.
It’s a move that has sparked widespread anger from certain World Cup nations, including Australia’s Group D rivals Denmark – who on Wednesday threatened to withdraw from FIFA.
As Irvine spoke, Germany took the field for their match against Japan – with captain Manuel Neuer wearing a FIFA-sanctioned ‘no discrimination’ armband, but only after the Germans posed for their pre-game team shot covering their mouths as if having been muzzled.
“Human rights are non-negotiable,” the German federation said in a statement.
“That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. That’s why this message is so important for us.
“Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position.”
Irvine reiterated his pride at the Socceroos’ stance and revealed his disappointment at the confusion around the messaging from the game’s governing body that has angered rival nations.
“I can’t speak for other countries and the decisions they make,” Irvine said.
“What they feel is the right way to protest any kind of social injustice they feel is being done.
“The One Love armband is an interesting discussion in itself, because the conversations I’ve had with people from the LGBTQI+ community have already described that messaging as vague and lacking a real statement in what it’s trying to achieve as well.
“It’s a tough one to dissect, obviously it’s been changing by the day. Changes through regulation, and then changes through decisions that teams have made and players have made.
“It’s tough to react when things change so quickly for those players and those teams.
“But when all is said and done there’ll be a time to really dissect how those messages have gone out and the way they chose to do it.”
Australia became the first World Cup nation to make a public statement on Qatar’s human rights record, their attitude towards same-sex relationships and treatment of migrant workers.
“All I can do is speak from our point of view and obviously say how proud I am of our squad and the clear position we took coming into this tournament,” Irvine added.
“There was no possibility to have that change thrown on us at a late stage. From our perspective that’s why we chose to do that and the timing in which we did it as well.”
Irvine was grilled on Australia’s own human rights record, and treatment of its indigenous people – a point which was raised by rival AFC nations in response to the players’ statement.
“I hope it’s something as a team we do continue to talk about. I’ve commented in the past on problems we have at home, as much as the issues we’ve talked about here,”
“Us as players and being part of this tournament we’re so intrinsically linked to these issues at this time, which is why we felt it was (important).
“People talk about the hypocrisy of these issues but not talking about ones that happen at home.
“I hope that’s something we continue to explore in future as part of our growth as a team and as individuals. That’s something to look at moving forward.”
Germany lost 2-1 to Japan in one of the early results which has shocked the World Cup.
CHILLING THREAT TO WORLD CUP STARS AFTER ANTHEM BOYCOTT
Iran players have been warned they face severe repercussions if they continue to boycott their national anthem at the World Cup.
The team was silent as the music was played ahead of their clash with England on Tuesday in an apparent show of support for the protest movement that has dominated the country since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
While praised by millions for their bravery in making such a public stand, the message from back home was more sinister.
Mehdi Chamran, the chairman of Tehran city council, said: “We will never allow anyone to insult our anthem and flag.
“Iranian civilisation has a history of several thousand years, this civilisation is as old as the total of European and American civilisations.”
The players’ behaviour in Doha is being closely scrutinised because many of the opponents of the Iranian regime have expressed anger at what they view as the lack of support from the team known as Team Melli.
That image was reinforced for many when the players had an audience with Iran’s ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi before they left for the World Cup.
After the players had stood impassively for the anthem, TV cameras briefly picked out a woman in the crowd, a headscarf on her head and tears in her eyes.
Sardar Azmoun, the team’s star who had expressed support for the protests on social media earlier this year, was brought on in the second half. He appeared a shadow of the player he has been for his German club Bayer Leverkusen in recent months.
A banner with the slogan of the protest movement, “Women Life Freedom”, was briefly hoisted among the Iranian supporters and now and again shouts of “Azadi, Azadi”, meaning “freedom, freedom”, rang out.
Iran were swept aside 6-2 by England in Group B.
‘MAKE THIS EASY’: ALLEGED THREAT TO DETAINED US JOURNO
A respected journalist from New York has been detained by World Cup officials for wearing a rainbow T-shirt to a match.
Grant Wahl, soccer analyst for CBS and former Sports Illustrated writer, was refused entry to the Senegal v Holland clash in Qatar and apprehended for almost half an hour.
He took to his social media to share what was happening which only made matters worse.
“Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed,” Wahl tweeted with an image of himself in the aforementioned T-shirt.
Same-sex relationships are illegal in the World Cup’s host nation and the topic of LGBTQ+ rights has been prominent for years in the lead up to the most controversial edition of the tournament.
However, FIFA has been adamant that rainbow flags would be welcomed at the World Cup (unless you’re a player wanting to wear an armband).
Wahl’s mobile phone was forcibly snatched from his hands, security repeatedly told him his T-shirt was “political” and that it needed to come off.
“You can make this easy. Take off your shirt,” Wahl claims one security guard said.
“I told him no, adding that my shirt wasn’t political at all,” Wahl; wrote in his description of the incident.
“My friend Andrew Das, a reporter for the New York Times, walked past, and I informed him what was going on. They detained him too.
“Eventually, the guards made me stand up, turn around and face the CCTV camera above us.”
After almost half an hour, Wahl continued: “A security commander approached me. He said they were letting me through and apologised. We shook hands.
“One of the security guards told me they were just trying to protect me from fans inside who could harm me for wearing the shirt.
“A FIFA rep later apologised to me as well, but the entire episode left me wondering: What’s it like for ordinary Qataris who might wear a rainbow shirt when the world isn’t watching here? What’s that like?”
FIFA CONCUSSION RULES SLAMMED AFTER SICKENING CLASH
Iran’s opening World Cup clash with England was marred in political controversy and protest but on the field a sickening head clash overshadowed the Three Lions’ 6-2 rout. The match was suspended for 10 minutes after Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was flattened by one of his own players in a sickening head clash which has now landed him in hospital.
Despite fears he may have suffered a concussion, Beiranvand was allowed to play on in farcical scenes.
In the aftermath of the incident, Beiranvand appeared visibly disoriented with blood coming from his nose.
A minute later he signalled he could not continue and was taken from the pitch on a stretcher.
Former England star Jermaine Jenas was blunt in his opinion: “This really is unacceptable,” he said.
Luke Griggs of head injury charity Headway didn’t hold back in his opinions saying FIFA’s concussion protocol had been an abject failure on his first test.
“It was irrelevant that he came off a minute later, he shouldn’t have stayed on for a second, let alone a minute. It’s an utter disgrace.
“He was clearly distressed and unfit to continue, this seems to be another case of the decision being made by the player and not medical staff.
“This was the first test of the FIFA World Cup concussion protocol and it was an abject failure.”
Beiranvand has now been revealed to have suffered a “serious concussion.”
“According to my medical information and also the referee’s, they were not able to stop the player bleeding. It was something related to (his) broken nose,” Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said afterwards.
“When we were ready to make the substitution, he was able to stop bleeding, so we thought that he could keep going.
“But we had some signs that the possibility of concussion, it happens with the player, it was not clear.
“Unfortunately one minute later, the player was not able to keep going, and he suffered a serious concussion and at this moment he’s on his way to the hospital for more examinations.
“That’s why the delay happened. It was the doubt between the broken nose and the concussion.”
IRAN BOYCOTT ANTHEM
Iran’s players did not sing their national anthem before their first game of the World Cup against England, in apparent support for anti-government protesters in their homeland.
Ahead of the game in Qatar, captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh said the team would decide together whether or not to refuse to sing the anthem in a show of solidarity for demonstrations that have rocked the regime in Iran.
The Iranian players stood impassively and grim-faced as their anthem rang out around the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
Iran has been shaken by two months of nationwide protests since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in morality police custody on September 16.
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin, died three days after her arrest in Tehran over an alleged breach of the Islamic republic’s dress code for women, which includes the mandatory hijab headscarf.
Some Iranian athletes have chosen not to sing the national anthem or celebrate their victories in support of the protesters.
SEVEN NATIONS FORCED TO ABANDON ONE LOVE ARMBAND
Seven World Cup nations have been forced to abandon plans to wear the inclusive One Love armband after an ‘unprecedented’ FIFA edict which could have resulted in the suspension of each nation’s captain during the group stage.
England coach Gareth Southgate has said his team will take the knee before their World Cup matches in Qatar to send a strong message of “inclusivity”.
But captain Harry Kane will not wear the rainbow One Love armband, following the shock decision by FIFA on Sunday to threaten captains who did so with yellow and red cards.
And nor will the captains of Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, following a tough FIFA call this week.
Kane had previously pledged to wear the armband along with other European captains at the tournament, as a symbol of inclusivity – in particular for the LBGTQ community in a country where same-sex relationships are strictly outlawed.
But the threat of losing their captain to a ban in the group stage prompted a stunning backtrack from the seven federations who revealed the news in a joint statement just 3 hours before England’s World Cup-opening match against Iran.
“FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field,” the statement read.
“As national federations we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in FIFA World Cup games.
“We are prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations, and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband.
“However we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field.
“We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision which we believe is unprecedented – we wrote to FIFA in September informing them of our wish to wear the One Love armband to actively support inclusion in football and had no response.
“Our players and coaches are disappointed – they are strong supporters of inclusion and will show support in other ways.”
WORLD CUP DRUG BUST: COPS INTERCEPT MASSIVE HAUL
Qatar announced the first seizure of drugs during the football World Cup, including the painkiller tramadol which has been widely used in football.
Customs authorities at Hamad International Airport “foiled the smuggling” of 1,990 tramadol pills and 464.5 grams (16.4 ounces) of hashish, according to a statement on Twitter, a day after the tournament began.
The illicit substances were found when customs officials “suspected” a passenger and inspected the luggage, the customs service said in its statement.
The passenger, whose nationality was not given, will appear in court, an official said.
Qatar has predicted that more than one million fans will come to the Gulf state for the month-long tournament that ends December 18.
The Gulf emirate has strict laws on drug possession which include long prison terms, large fines and deportation.
The World Anti-Doping Agency is due to add tramadol, an addictive synthetic opiate, to its banned list from 2024.
It is already prohibited in cycling.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland said in media interviews this year that he considered killing himself because of his overuse of tramadol
BEER BAN SPARKS FURY
The nation that wins the World Cup stands to win a massive bonus on top of the famous trophy – a motherload of free beer.
Tournament sponsor Budweiser has been left with thousands of cans of beer it can’t sell after Qatar’s last-minute ban on selling alcohol at tournament venues.
A can of Bud can still be purchased in Qatar but the only official World Cup site where fans can have a drink will be at the Doha city centre fan zone.
That leaves the company with a potential mountain of booze that could go to waste.
But it has a plan.
On Sunday Budweiser’s official Twitter account said: “New Day, New Tweet. Winning Country gets the Buds. Who will get them?”
Originally published as World Cup 2022 controversial moments: Iran’s powerful protest, Germany’s gag, FIFA hypocrisy
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