Forcing Saudi Arabia to sell beer if it wins the 2030 bid would be Islamophobic

Forcing Saudi Arabia to sell beer if it wins the 2030 bid would be Islamophobic

According to Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, being forced to sell alcohol by FIFA if the country hosts the World Cup would be Islamophobic.

The Saudis are considering an ambitious bid for the 2030 event, along with Greece and Egypt, and they have not been discouraged by the intense scrutiny on human rights suffered by current hosts Qatar.

Even while alcohol is available in some #Doha bars, Qatar effectively rescinded pledges that it would be offered at #WorldCup venues just weeks before the event began.

Saudi Arabia is entirely dry, which the country says should not prevent it from hosting the World Cup. When asked if imposing alcohol restrictions on a tournament would be Islamophobic, Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal replied, “Yes, because the World Cup is for everyone.”

He continued: “If you disagree, and you don’t think you’ll enjoy your time here, and you can’t follow that guideline, then don’t come. That’s all there is to it.”

Following human rights criticism, the Saudis stated that they are “moving towards a better future,” but no specific improvements were proposed.