Fifa World Cup: Thousands turned away from fan zone at concert venue celebrating start of World Cup
- Featuring Lebanese singer Myriam Fares and Colombian singer Maluma, the concert comes before the expected 1.2 million fans fully arrive in Doha
- With Qatar deciding to ban beer from stadiums, fan zones such as the concert venue on the corniche will be the only Fifa-associated area serving pints
Authorities turned away thousands of fans on Saturday night from a concert celebrating the World Cup beginning the next day in Qatar, showing the challenges ahead for Doha as it tries to manage crowds in Fifa’s most-compact tournament ever.
Disappointed fans took being turned away largely in stride. Once away from the venue, Qatari police, security guards and others guided the thousands away with giant foam fingers, loudhailers and blinking traffic control wands.
But the concert comes before the 1.2 million fans expected for the tournament fully arrive in this nation on the Arabian Peninsula.
And with Qatar deciding only on Friday to ban beer sales from tournament stadiums, fan zones such as the one on the corniche hosting the concert will be the only Fifa-associated area serving pints – meaning more fans could wind up there.
“We know that what the police say here goes,” said a 30-year-old trucker from Mumbai, who declined to give his name for fear of reprisals. He and his friends had got a rare day off from Hamad Port to walk 6km (3.7 miles) to the fan zone before being turned away.
“We’re sad to leave because it’s too early,” he added. “There’s nothing we can do.”
Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which oversees the World Cup, did not immediately respond to questions about the fan zone turning away crowds Saturday night.
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