Qatar drops coronavirus restrictions just before World Cup begins
FILE – In this Dec. 13, 2017 file photo, football fans in Qatar cheer while the FIFA Women’s World Cup is played in the city of Doha, Qatar. The World Cup is set to begin in Russia with a game against Croatia on Friday, July 15, 2018. But for the first time in the tournament’s history, Qatar is pulling out of its decision to hold the tournament from April to June. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali,File)
FILE – In this Dec. 13, 2017 file photo, football fans in Qatar cheer while the FIFA Women’s World Cup is played in the city of Doha, Qatar. The World Cup is set to begin in Russia with a game against Croatia on Friday, July 15, 2018. But for the first time in the tournament’s history, Qatar is pulling out of its decision to hold the tournament from April to June. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali,File)
Doha (AP) — A few days before the World Cup is set to kick off in Russia, Qatar was the only country still following strict curbs on the spread of the coronavirus. But as the world celebrated this week, Qatar’s decision to suspend the event just before it begins threw up a paradoxical situation: FIFA is a month away from the start of what was supposed to be a celebration of football, but a month away from a coronavirus risk.
The organization had been under immense pressure from many quarters, as the global economy shut down in the past week, and the health crisis forced many to cancel or postpone their international events.
The world governing body had announced that Qatar would be hosting the women’s World Cup for the first time, but the decision was met with dismay by FIFA members and the event’s sponsors and TV networks that also are in attendance, including Qatar’s government.
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The decision to postpone the tournament was announced in an executive committee meeting on Tuesday night and then announced again two hours later by the executive committee secretary and president, Prince Ali bin Abdullah bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Prince Ali said the decision came as a result of the global health situation, though the organizers of the tournament
