SOME of the millions of foreign workers in Qatar have been “rewarded” with exceptionally low ticket charges in appreciation for their behind-the-scenes work at this World Cup.
Jita Singh, Singapore’s award-winning coach who is in Doha to watch the tournament, said he was surprised at this gesture by the organisers.
Far from Doha’s luxury hotels and sprawling new World Cup stadiums, the South Asian workers, from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, poured into a fewcricket grounds in the city’s sandy outskirts to enjoy the tournament they helped create.
FOOD OPTIONS
There were even food options beyond deep-fried Indian snacks and thegrassy pitch in Asian Town, a neighbourhood of labour camps, is packed with migrant workers from some of the world’s poorest countries.
But credit to them, praised Jita, as they have powered Qatar, one of the world’s richest, and helped accomplish its multi-billion-dollar stadium-building effort for this first-ever tournament in the desert terrain.
He said: “I was told they paid the equivalent of US$3 even for the Argentina football jersey they wore when they sat with 15,000 other migrant workers in a hidden corner of Doha to watch Lionel Messi’s side salvage their World Cup hopes.”
Messi’s goal in the 2-0 win over Mexico on Sunday brought the biggest crowd seen at the Asian Town cricket stadium to their feet.
Jita added: “I feel sad when they’re called“fake fans” and they readily acknowledge that they bought counterfeit team jerseys for US$3 or less, instead of the US$90 that an official version costs.”
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor.
IT doesn’t come easy for football fans at this World Cup and there are many who’re feeling the big pinch in their pockets.
The resilience of Qatar’s currency, in particular, is making the trip particularly painful for travellers from countries such as South Korea, Japan and England.
Award-winning Singapore coach Jita Singh, now in Doha, says almost everything from hotel bills to the price of a water-bottle or even a can of Coca-Cola at the stadiums are pinching the football-loving tourists.
For the record, the Qatari riyal is pegged to the US dollar, which has roiled markets this year with its strength. A gauge of global currency volatility is set for its highest annual average since 2016, thanks in part to aggressive rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve and the Russia-led war in Ukraine.
WATCH THE SPENDING IN THE WORLD CUP
The riyal has strengthened almost nine per cent against the South Korean won this year, which was hit by weakening exports and local housing market strains, says Jita, who is cautious of his spending in Qatar.
He is staying with his son, who is on a long-term work attachment and that has substantially cut his overall costs.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to view the World Cup in Asia and I’ve saved a lot for this trip,” said Jita. “I must admit that preparing for the Qatar trip has been both physically and financially burdensome.”
COST OF WATER BOTTLE
For example, alcohol is heavily restricted in Qatar. But visitors are able to purchase a bottle of Budweiser at designated areas for around 50 riyals (US$18), nearly 10 times the price of the same product in a convenience store in South Korea.
Jita added: “A small bottle of water at the venue costs about 400 yen (US$4), and Coca-Cola is around 600 yen. This is a big burden for the average football fan.”
But to the credit of the host, Qatar has placed measures to mitigate rising costs, banning any over-the-counter ticket reselling and managing accommodation costs through an official website.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Thankfully, public transportation and SIM cards for Internet connection are free for visitors holding the Hayya card, a fan ID for World Cup ticket holders.
“I didn’t overspend,” said Jita, who is in Doha with wife Misnah and son Sunny. “I was lucky because I stayed with Georgie, my son,and the main cost is accommodation.”
Whatever the financial burden, says Jita, he commends the host for easing the pain to fans’ pockets as he calls the trip “the thrill of being at the world’s best tournament”.
Jita said: “We feel fortunate to be here and we wouldn’t miss what could be the last World Cup for several world-class stars like Son Heung-min (South Korea), Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal).”
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor.
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CAN the number of football fans coming to Qatar seriously offer an indication to the brewing success of the world’s biggest tournament?
Only a little over 765,000 visitors reportedly landed up in Doha in the first two weeks of the FIFA World Cup 2022, falling well short of the expectations of the Arab country.
Qatar, which became the first Arab country to host the showpiece football event, had expected an influx of around 1.2 million visitors.
It’s highly unlikely that the number will double in the next 10 days even as a blockbuster quarter-finals line-up awaits the World Cup. With only eight teams left in action, Qatar is unlikely to meet their expected target, according to multiple media reports.
The report which identified the numbers was prepared by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), which organises the tournament. And half of the 765,000 have now left the country at the end of the Round of 16.
PEAK PERIOD
The peak period which the organisers expected for visitor influx was between November 24 and 28 during which the action-packed group stages was heading towards its climax.
There was plenty of action during the group stage as teams like Japan, South Korea and Australia and African sides Senegal and Morocco pulled off a few surprises with former champions Japan and World No. 2 Belgium being shown the door.
The report registered 1.33 million match ticket holders and 3.09 million tickets sold across the eight stadiums for the World Cup, which will end on December 18. The stadium attendance at the first 52 matches was 2.65 million.
Notably, FIFA president Gianni Infantino claimed record-breaking viewership for the group stage, saying the action in the first phase of the World Cup was one of the best in the history of the tournament.
‘INCREDIBLE EXCITEMENT’
“Fantastic atmosphere, great goals, incredible excitement, surprises, small teams beating big teams,” he was reportedly quoted.
“Well, there are no more small teams and no more big teams. The level is very, very equal.
“For the first time as well, national teams from all continents going to the knock-out phase, for the first time in history. This shows that football is really becoming truly global.”
The organisers were expecting more visitors to flock to Qatar for popular matches and after the country lifted entry restrictions for nationals and residents of fellow Gulf states.
It is learnt on Tuesday, hundreds of Moroccan fans flew into Qatar on special flights arranged ahead of their team’s victory over Spain. Similar fights will be laid on to allow last-minute fans to fly in from overseas to watch their teams advance through the tournament’s final three rounds.
POINTS OF ENTRY FOR FANS
The points of entry have also been very restrictive, too. Visitors to Qatar must obtain a Hayya identification card ahead of travel as it doubles as a mandatory entry visa during the tournament period. But on Tuesday, Qatar dropped this requirement for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Some surveys have also shown that the Qatar World Cup stands as one of the most expensive in the history of the sport in terms of tickets, accommodation and alcohol sales, which is also banned at the stadium.
“Staging it for the first time in the Middle East marks massive steps and risks for the organisers,” says award-winning Singapore coach Jita Singh, now in Doha, with his family.
“But most view it, even including me, as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see thebest football tournamentover a month.”
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor.
With deluxe match packages selling for thousands of dollars and five-star hotels doing a brisk trade, a sheen of glamour coats Qatar’s World Cup despite football’s working-class roots.
A penchant for luxury in the energy-rich Gulf state, which has one of the world’s highest GDPs per head, has rubbed off on an unusually high-end edition of a tournament for the masses.
If you’re able to spring $4,950 for a VIP ticket to a group game, you can enjoy drinks, a six-course meal and entertainment at a lounge overlooking the halfway line at Lusail Stadium, north of Doha.
Those with bottomless budgets in the resource-rich region have attractive accommodation options too, with one third-party site offering $4,000-a-night hotel rooms and $26,000 for a “head of state” suite — with a 30-night minimum stay.
Things are a little different for ordinary fans.
Cheaper options include a steel bed in a shared room in the semi-desert near the capital at $84 a night, or accommodation on docked cruise ships from $179 to $800.
Stadium crowds will include Qatar’s migrant labourers, who were offered some tickets at 40 riyals ($11) to watch a sport whose players and core supporters are traditionally blue-collar.
According to Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, the onus on “premium” experiences has left some fans cold.
“It’s clear that there’s a focus on a type of premium tourism, but the vast majority that go to a World Cup are middle-class,” Evain told AFP.
“They’re not the sort of people who can afford to stay on a cruise liner at $5,000 a week.”
– ‘Solution is to cancel’ –
The hordes of ticketless fans that usually descend on a World Cup will be reduced in number, as only ticket holders and up to three guests each can enter Qatar during the November 20 – December 18 tournament.
Many supporters will stay elsewhere in the Gulf and board the estimated 100-200 World Cup shuttle flights a day from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman.
Even those options do not come cheap.
In Dubai, an hour’s flight away and expected to be a major destination, an official World Cup package costs $1,500 for four nights in a shared room, including one return flight to Doha but no match tickets.
The Qatar World Cup is at least compact, with all eight stadiums in and around Doha — eradicating the cross-country travel needed at previous editions such as Brazil 2014 or Russia 2018.
“The problem with the World Cup in Qatar is that there are very few alternatives,” said Evain.
“At a World Cup in Brazil or Russia, you can take a train, hire a car, stay 200 kilometres (120 miles) away or come just for the day of the match.
“None of that is possible in Qatar. Either you can’t find accommodation or accommodation is too expensive,” he added.
“People are looking for a solution and for quite a few people the solution is to cancel, because they can’t afford this sort of budget.”
– High-end experiences –
However, Sue Holt, executive director of Expat Sport, the UAE agent for the official World Cup package provider, said there was a range of accommodation “to suit most budgets”.
The United States, Britain, France, Mexico, China and India were among the countries where fans were showing most interest in packages for the UAE, she said.
“Sports tourists generally tend to be older and travel in groups, which can be families, friends or sporting groups,” she said.
“Part of the appeal of this type of travel is that it is a collective, shared experience watching your favourite team or player together.”
These supporters “will include people who have never ventured to this region before”, added Holt.
According to Robert Mogielnicki, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, hosting the World Cup is about “prestige” for Qatar, a monarchy of just 2.8 million people, overwhelmingly expatriate workers.
“What the Qataris don’t want to happen is get stuck with an oversupply of tourism infrastructure for a segment of tourists unlikely to be a regular, consistent presence in the country,” he said, explaining the limited options.
“I suspect that the Qataris will keep looking to attract wealthier tourists from elite circles,” added Mogielnicki, who is also adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University and George Washington University.
“Lots of the momentum behind regional tourism projects, especially in Saudi Arabia, does seem to focus on high-end, luxury experiences these days.”
More articles related to the 2022 World Cup can be found here.
Qatar: England fans allegedly paid to “support” the 2022 World Cup
Apparently it is rumoured that Qatar is paying a group of 40 England fans to attend the World Cup. They were given careful instructions to share positive messages about their time in Qatar and would sing specific songs when asked.
Furthermore, they are informed to report any postings on social media that would backlash Qatar on its human rights problem. They had to sign a code of conduct, and will receive free flights, free accommodations and about £60 a day for spending money.
Their flights are booked on the 17th of November. There are another 40 Welsh supporters joining this “Fan Leader Programme” and there are fans from 30 other countries in this programme.
According to Metro UK, a documentation about this whole agenda given to those that are involved stated “In celebration of the fans around the world, over the period of five minutes, fan chants from each nation will be played and you will be expected to stand up, sing the song/chant, wave your flags and represent your country.
The camera will focus on each national fan group in turn. We will share with you the chant/song selected from your country to ensure you are familiar with it.’ A sentence that was bold in red print states, ‘Be ready in your shirt, flags and scarves to cheer and shout.”
The Football Association has openly disclosed that they do not support this programme in any way. They caught wind of this only through media outlets publishing information about it.
However, there are no documentations of this published publicly. It is unclear whether these are facts or more fabrications from the Western world against the tiny Middle Eastern nation.
Netizen response towards Qatar’s alleged attempt
The same could be said about Olympics in China John. I just think that football seems to be hardest hit in these situations. They will change over time like the Uk has. Remember being gay was illegal when England won the world cup at Wembley in 1966. 🤷♂️🙌
The “woke” people of social media claim that they will be boycotting the whole tournament due to Qatar obtaining the rights to host it in a dodgy manner. Netizens are hoping that the winner of this league would “boycott” winning the trophy due to the human rights issues.
Others are claiming that this World Cup is not as exciting as the past, just a few weeks prior to the first match and there’s not much buzz going on about it. Others are quite adamant that we should not condone exploitation.
The response to that remark is that exploitation still happens regardless of what industry or event. Furthermore, a number of large European brands are heavily involved in the exploitation of cheap labourers in Asia.
More comments discussed about the human rights issues occuring during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Furthermore, European countries such as England used to criminalise homosexuality and a netizen remarked that being gay was illegal in 1966 when England won the World Cup.
IS someone seriously tickling with crowd-figures as host Qatar appear not to be able to account for thousands of fans who appear to be missing from its official crowd numbers at the World Cup.
Can this really happen at the world’s biggest once-in-four-years football fiesta?
Sincerely, there has been so many varying theories, rumours or otherwise, and differing photos taken from the opening ceremony and even Tuesday’s matches appear to throw fuel on the fire.
Let’s look definitely at the first four matches played so far. The official crowds for all matches were listed to be well above the official capacity for each of the venues.
Even photos taken of grandstands during the middle of the matches have also shown thousands of missing fans.
These are the official crowds announced for the four matches: (1) Qatar vs Ecuador – 67,372 – official capacity of Al Bayt Stadium is 60,000. (2)England vs Iran – 45,334 – official capacity of Khalifa International Stadium is 40,000. (3) Netherlands vs Senegal – 41,721 – official capacity of Al Thumama Stadium is 40,000. (4) USA vs Wales – 43,418 – official capacity of Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium is 40,000.
PHOTO EVIDENCES
If you work up the total figures, it shows a staggering number of 17,845 have somehow squeezed into stadiums they are not supposed to fit inside. No explanation has been given for the discrepancies.
Can this really happen, you wonder?
More eye-catching were photos taken from the Netherlands’ 2-0 win over Senegal with the Netherlands celebrating a late goal with entire sections of the stadium appearing vacant.
The global media have been caught unawares and the British newspaper, The Sun,reported the announcement that 41,721 spectators had attended the game. And this had fans even chuckling on social media.
It comes after the embarrassing sight of Qatari fans walking out during the second half of the team’s loss to Ecuador, leaving sections of the grandstands looking grim.
CAPACITY FIGURES
FIFA don’t want to be left red-faced in explaining. But has given an indication of the crowd-discrepancies through British journalist Rachel Burden. Burden tweeted FIFA had claimed to her “capacity figure is the reference capacity that meets the FIFA requirements. The final capacity during event mode is higher (hence the mismatch).”
You wonder if you can seriously believe this.
Qatar became the first host nation to lose its World Cup opener in the 92-year history of the tournament. It has only given air to previous speculation that the wealthy state has paid “fake fans” to make public displays of support for various national teams.
Video captured in Qatar in the days leading up to the opening ceremony showed groups of so-called supporters gathering in public to cheer on their team. Cynical commentators have suggested the displays were not exactly convincing.
For the record, the tournament has stated more than one million fans from around the globe will be in Qatar during the tournament. But at least some of those fans have been having a tough time, with accommodation nightmares and alcohol bans.
Austrian manager and former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick reportedly told a journalist:“You don’t need to buy fans for anyone to support you, they are automatically there already.”
The big suspicious question: Is anyone playing with crowd-figures just to deliberately beef up the numbers? Otherwise how can thousands of fans appear to be missing from its official crowd numbers at this World Cup?
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor
