Flights and accommodation are free for around 450 fans who are going to Qatar at the invitation of the World Cup organisers. They are supposed to spread a good mood – but now they have to do without the daily flat rate that was actually planned. A German group should also be there.
According to a report by the ARD sports show, the football fans invited by the World Cup organizing committee will no longer receive “pocket money” in Qatar. An email to participants in the travel program said guests should be protected from the “erroneous, misinformed claim” that they are “paid fans”. That’s why “pocket money is unfortunately no longer provided”.
As international media had reported, the plan was to charge a credit card with around 70 euros per day. “A loaded Visa card will be issued upon arrival,” quotes the sports show from a letter to the fans. According to the report, media coverage was the trigger for the short-term cancellation of this measure. In an email to the invited fans, there is a request to bring cash with them.
Around 450 fans from 59 countries are said to be involved in the “Fan Leader Network”. According to reports, during the finals (November 20 to December 18), they should set the mood for the World Cup hosts, who have been heavily criticized in Europe. Flights and accommodation would be provided, it said. The organizing committee did not comment on the daily allowance reports.
The “Fan Club National Team” of the German Football Association does not support the program. Martin Endemann from the European fan alliance Football Supporters Europe said at the beginning of November: “The fact that Qatar is still buying fans shortly before the start of the tournament also indicates that enthusiasm among active national team fan groups in many countries is rather low. (…) These people shouldn’t be seen as representative fan representatives, but at most as volunteers for FIFA and the Organizing Committee.” According to the “Mittelbayerische Zeitung”, a 40-strong tour group is traveling to Qatar from Germany.
