FIFA has made a late U-turn and banned fans from taking water bottles into World Cup venues despite the expected scorching heat.
The change of policy has come late in the day with football’s governing body saying only three weeks ago in their official Stadium Code of Conduct that “empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles, up to (1 litre in) capacity, may be brought into the Stadium.”
The Athletic has now confirmed that FIFA have updated their code of conduct to state that “reusable water bottles are no longer permitted at the FIFA World Cup stadiums”.
The ban on reusable plastic bottles is likely to prove controversial with fans unable to even refill an empty bottle at a water fountain or dispenser. Other types of bottles are also not permitted, due to the risk of causing injury when thrown.
FIFA has a long-standing partnership with sponsor Coca-Cola and their water brand Dasani will be sold in World Cup venues. Last summer’s Club World Cup saw venues charge up to $6 (£4.47) for bottled water, but it is unclear whether similar price points will be used.
Heat and extreme weather is expected to be an issue at the World Cup this summer, as was the case 12 months ago. Ex-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said it was “impossible” to organise normal training sessions amid a “code red” heat warnings and then Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac said he was “sweating like I’ve just come out of a sauna”.
Maresca, who saw a game subjected to a two-hour delay due to extreme weather, claimed: “I can understand that for security reasons, you have to suspend the game. But if you suspend seven or eight games, that means that probably this is not the right place to do this competition.”
View 2 ImagesWater will be provided by Coca Cola(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Fan safety will also be under the spotlight due to the heat, and charging for water comes after supporters have already paid extortionate amounts for tickets.
In a report the World Weather Attribution’s scientists claimed that approximately 26 of the 104 games are likely to be played when the host city’s Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) exceeds 26 degrees.
WBGT combines temperature, humidity, wind, and sunlight to provide a measure of heat stress, and it is used by the military, sports scientists, and safety experts to prevent heat-related illnesses.
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