decapitated

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fifa-world-cup/article-11446229/Qatar-officials-threaten-smash-cameras-fans-share-footage-hell-fan-village-World-Cup.html Leather armchairs in 30 degrees heat?

There is now an investigation into the English world cup snitches after racist/homophobic/antisemitic WhatsApp posts. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fresh-investigation-into-england-fans-group-over-alleged-antisemitism-qt2bxxs8c

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/18/world-cup-accommodation-site-unfinished-with-abandoned-trucks

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/18/multiple-world-cup-sponsors-concerned-over-contracts-after-qatars-alcohol-ban

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11445381/World-Cup-FIFA-warned-unusually-HIGH-number-penalties-awarded-Qatar-warm-games.html So it seems like there might be something to the Qatar match fixing rumours after all, though I hope that is not the case.

Meanwhile the Guardian spoke to the security guards in the same fan park and discovered they are paid 35p an hour and ruthlessly exploited and mistreated by the Qatari authorities. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/nov/18/security-guards-doha-qatar-world-cup-park-claim-they-are-paid-just-35p-an-hour

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/18/fans-paid-to-attend-world-cup-by-qatar-have-daily-allowance-cancelled

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11444837/FOX-Sports-World-Cup-coverage-sponsored-Qatar-Airways-underwritten-Qatari-government.html

From the Times.

There does seem to be a distinct lack of knowledge among England fans (as well the German fan who thought he could bring 2 bottles of whiskey in his suitcase) about cultural and legal norms in Qatar. Its like they've done zero research at all.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20473683/furious-england-qatar-booze-ban-world-cup-stadiums/ @Weezer will know more, but being fan parks aren't selling alcohol until 7pm, it might not be so easy for them to know where to find alcohol for sale. I'm intrigued by the idea of these "sobering up tents" and I'm not sure they will work too well in practice.

You are right. It's a not a part of European/English culture that is in any way praiseworthy. I guess it depends on what you class as causing a scene. Chanting and singing in a rowdy manner? rowdy celebrations/anger at defeats? chucking your drink in the air in celebration? It's all very moronic, but wading in with crowd control when those things happen will just make things worse. I imagine like you say, after researching the matter, dehydration/heat stroke/exhaustion is the more likely danger. Alcohol is only served between 7pm-1am and you are only allowed 4 pints of Budweiser (at £12 per unit). The problem is that the UK Media think massive queues for food, drinks both alcoholic and not, and the toilets are extremely likely. The Sun in particular seemed to think there weren't enough food/drink outlets and toilets for the crowds expected.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11441727/World-Cup-FIFA-not-providing-water-fountains-despite-temperatures-reaching-33-DEGREES-Qatar.html

The thing is though, most of the European/Latin American fans haven't been to the Middle East before let alone Qatar. There are going to be a lot of people who don't know the unwritten rules and will be acting like fans do back home. It might not just be actually drunk/coked up fans who they start pulling from the crowd but anyone who is rowdy (though not enough to be breaking the laws in say Germany, the UK, Brazil etc) which sounds like both the sort of thing that creates major unrest in the crowd (at least until they find out what happens to those unlucky to end up in custody) and viral footage. The security in Qatar freaked out at a Danish TV presenter doing a piece to camera and kicked off. I do worry they don't have the cultural experience to deal with what is normal tournament behaviour in the Western world. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63651308 One wonders if the issue is more heat stroke/exhaustion than any fan misbehaviour though either is possible. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20445091/world-cup-fan-zone-england-beer-price/ The Sun has some pictures

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11442203/Qatar-want-alcohol-sales-World-Cup-stadiums-BANNED.html Fans have been talking to the Mail about it and they aren't happy. I found this nugget in the article interesting/concerning: Are we going to see aggro in the fanzones when security (which may include armed members of Pakistani army according to media reports) starts snatching people as they seem 'drunk'?

On a related note: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11443185/World-Cup-FIFA-officials-told-hotel-isnt-ready-arrival-Qatar.html?

I reckon the Qataris planned this from day one. Pulling this move 2-3 days before the tournaments start means FIFA had no choice but to comply.

edit: maybe the source doing the debunking needs debunking Wheels within wheels!

I think it's bull**** as I can't find any Daily Mail article about this story and other Middle Eastern experts say Taha is a propaganda source (no idea if this is true). We'll know if its true by Sunday night. Surely if it is, they'll just arrange a 2-1 win instead at the last minute instead or something like that?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63671614

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/world-cup-qataris-want-complete-stadium-beer-ban-f5bcjprqh A worrying omen for how the rest of the tournament will go.

With this and the Danish film crew getting roughed up by police live on air, I have to wonder if this is going to be another Atlanta 1996 or when Delhi hosted the commonwealth games rather than everything coming together at the last minute and being fine.