BOOZE BAN IS MAKING FOOTBALL MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE

ALCOHOL has created a dark

undercurrent in our own football. When I arrive at a match I’m working on back at home these days, I accept that there might be abuse heading my way as I walk from the car to the stadium. I also accept that it comes with the job. No one shouts anything at me that I’ve not heard 100 times before. But what I’ve witnessed out here in Qatar has been a world of football without that abuse and a really joyous atmosphere, wherever you go. A large part of that flows from the alcohol bans. Our football seemingly goes hand in hand with hordes of drunken young men, who not only disgrace themselves at international games but their country, too. In our culture, it seems that to have a good time at football matches, you have to get paralytically drunk, so the next morning you don’t remember what you’ve done. You don’t even remember whether you’ve enjoyed yourself or not. It has just become normalised and got steadily worse but being out here has made me realise that we shouldn’t have to accept it. There’s no undercurrent that I’ve witnessed in seven games, so far, and it must be so enjoyable for families, women and children who are going to football here and not witnessing people embarrassing themselves in drink. This atmosphere is part of the reason why I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by what I’ve found out here — albeit from within the media bubble, being shuttled around by our ITV team. I’m certainly not ignoring the issues this country has, in terms of workers’ rights and intolerance of the LGBTQ community. I consider myself an ally and friend of that community, after my visit to Brighton Pride three years ago which taught me so much. But so much out here has impressed me. The infrastructure has been excellent. The stadiums have been extraordinary — and particularly the Lusail where the final will be held. It is a sporting festival, in the true sense of the word.