FIFA has been accused of putting revenue ahead of fans’ health after banning reusable water bottles from being taken into World Cup stadiums. In a late U-turn, the governing body rowed back on its advice that empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles would be permitted inside venues, instead prohibiting them “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees”.
The decision has sparked concern among supporters’ groups, with sweltering conditions expected at many stadiums and little information provided about how else fans can easily access water.
“It’s a real health risk,” said Ronan Evain, the executive director of Football Supporters Europe. “In Europe we see people collapsing in the stands from heatstroke more and more often. So it’s a very simple mathematics issue: the more you complicate the access to water, the more the risk of people getting serious heatstroke and dehydration.
“That shows the priority seems to be, again, to generate revenues. How immoral it is to [profit from] water in this situation when people’s health is at risk. I find this appalling.”
Regarding the charge of putting financial considerations first, FIFA said it was “prioritising safety and security of everyone involved”. It said in an earlier statement: “FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff. FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees. Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations and FIFA is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums.”
Fans were allowed to bring water bottles to games at last summer’s Club World Cup in the US, and FIFA had originally planned for the same to apply this year in the US, Mexico and Canada.
“If they allowed it last year and originally for this tournament then I find the security argument a bit hard to believe,” Evain said. “It shows water is unfortunately still seen as a commodity but it’s not, it’s a matter of health. We don’t know how expensive a bottle of water will be inside the stadium because no prices have been published.
“FIFA explained previously that part of their response to the heat risk was the water bottles. So what does it mean now to take it away, and what mitigation measures are they taking? It’s already a very expensive World Cup. People will look for alternatives or just not drink water when they should.”
The England supporters’ group Free Lions made its thoughts clear in a post on X. “What next? Sun cream banned and fans forced to buy it in stadiums? For all of the effort they are going to with ‘drinks breaks’ for the players, this is such a strange, late change.
“In all of our discussions, free water availability in stadiums was a key one and we were assured by FIFA that this would be the case and that fans will have the ability to bring their own water bottle.
“Naturally, the immediate thought from supporters is this is just the latest money-grab. For how hot the stadiums will be, many in open air, just let fans bring a bottle if they want to. We hope the water fountains in stadiums will still be free, hopefully you aren’t charged in the queue!”
FIFA said it would have measures in place to ensure fans are not adversely affected by the heat. “FIFA works closely with each host city committee and local authorities on heat mitigation factors for fans travelling to the stadium, which can include resources such as misting stations, fans, hydration stations, cooling tents and more around the stadium footprint,” it said.
Players will benefit from a three-minute hydration break at the midway point in each half, in a measure announced by FIFA in December.
