QATARI officials have sparked fury after pulling the plug on pre-noon parties ahead of Wales’ crunch match with Iran.
The World Cup hosts imposed a last minute ban on early drinking, stifling Welsh plans for a boozy pre-game bash.
Around 1,200 Wales fans packed-out pre and post game parties for their USA match at the InterContinental hotel in Doha on Monday night.
And supporters expected another jamboree when they reunite for the Iran clash on Friday.
But their festivities have been cancelled with just 24 hours notice – after Qatari officials banned booze before midday.
Peter Humphreys, 61, said: “The fun police have struck again – but it is hardly surprising.
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“If they can ban Budweiser for the tournament then what chance do a few plucky Taffs have of getting a drink before the game?
“Fortunately we’re able to make our own atmosphere but it would be nice to have had a beer to settle the nerves.”
Peter revealed he paid £79 for the pre-game party ticket which included five pints of beer and a curry – but he will now only be able to transfer it to an after-match party instead.
Organiser Leigh James of fans’ charity Gol Cymru told ticketholders: “The hotel have been in discussions with the Qatari authorities overnight and unfortunately, as it is with Qatar, a change has been imposed and we can now no longer serve alcohol before midday Friday.
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“Therefore we have had to take the decision to cancel the pre-match event.
“Once again on behalf of the hotel I apologise, however I have learnt that in Qatar to always expect the unexpected.
“Please understand this is Qatar and many things are totally out of my control, I am frustrated as the next person when they make last-minute decisions.”
Paul Corkrey, from the Wales Football Supporters’ Association said he was “disappointed” by Qatar’s decision to make the change.
He said: “There’s one thing about it – they are consistent, they consistently change the rules.
“There’s not a lot we can do, really, just say that we’re disappointed really.
“A lot of fans are by themselves, in ones or twos, and they go to these things for company and be with their friends or to meet new people.
“It’s such a shame as the facilities, the place, the weather, the fact you can see three or four games in a day is positive. But they keep doing negative things now and then.”
‘LUDICROUS’
The host nation has been raising eye-brows ever since football fans began planning their trips for the biggest tournament on earth.
Sun man Oliver Harvey set out on a daring expedition to find Doha’s most expensive beer – with stunning results.
He revealed that a single bottle of becks at the World Cup host city set him back a whopping £15.
A Saudi Arabia supporter – celebrating his team’s World Cup win over Argentina – said: “The prices are ludicrous. How are we supposed to party?”
But other supporters have had it worse – as punters who splashed out £175-a-night on fan villages have been blighted with problems.
Despite billions of pounds being forked out to host the tournament and accommodate the over a million fans expected to visit Qatar, some of the infrastructure appears to have been hastily knocked together on a tight budget.
World Cup fans have been forced to sleep rough amid six hour queues for “sauna” cabins with “leaky toilets”.
But not everyone has been deterred – as this Mexico fan was caught out in a hilarious attempt to sneak booze past security.
And Three Lions fans were also slapped with a harsh booze ban just two days before the tournament kicked off – but they defiantly vowed to The Sun to still “get p****d” before games anyway.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
