New Delhi: While Ecuador won the opening encounter against the hosts, their fans demanded something more during the game. Fans chanted “Queremos Cerveza”, which translates to “We want beer”. The authorities decided to ban alcohol in the stadiums during the FIFA World Cup 2022 and Ecuador fans were clearly unhappy with the decision.
A video of the fans chanting the slogan went viral on the internet. Apart from the game, beer in stadiums became a talking point for netizens.
According to reports, just two days prior to the tournament, the royal family of Qatar, after a conversation with FIFA, decided that alcoholic drinks would not be sold in any of the eight stadiums. Reports say that selling beer is allowed at fan zones and licensed places such as the hospitality box in the stadium. While FIFA announced the decision to ban alcoholic drinks within the perimeter of the stadium, the officials did not state a reason for the same. FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that fans can survive for three hours without beer.
The incident where Ecuador fans demanded beer occurred during half-time. After half-time was over, Ecuador was leading 2-0 in the game and their fans clearly needed beers to celebrate the lead at the Al Bayt Stadium. On the internet, some found it funny, while others did not like it as it seemed disrespectful of Qatari culture in which alcohol is forbidden.
In the game, Ecuador skipper Enner Valencia scored the first goal of the tournament in the 16th minute of the game off a penalty. Valencia took a brilliant header to put the ball into the bottom-left corner of the goal post and give his team a 2-0 lead. Ecuador had a clean sheet for the seventh consecutive game and defeated Qatar.
