Fifa's Water Bottle Ban Raises Health Concerns Ahead of 2022 World Cup
The 2022 World Cup attracted more than a million fans to Qatar.
Fifa has been warned it is putting fans' health at risk by introducing a ban on bringing reusable water bottles into stadiums for this summer's World Cup.
Due to safety concerns, Fifa announced a late policy change prohibiting fans from bringing reusable water bottles into World Cup stadiums.
The official stadium code of conduct had previously stated:
"For the avoidance of doubt, empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles, up to (1 litre in) capacity, may be brought into the stadium."
However, just seven days before the tournament begins on 11 June, bottles—as well as cups, jars, and cans—have been banned. Fifa explained this measure aims to reduce the risk of injury caused by fans throwing missiles.
"Fifa is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff,"the football world governing body said in a statement.
Fans will still be able to purchase water inside stadiums, and Fifa has assured that prices will not exceed usual venue rates.
Despite these assurances, heat experts have criticized the reversal, with one expert stating the ban
"will clearly heighten the risk of heat-related health incidents."
In May, scientists warned that Fifa's heat safety measures for the tournament are
"inadequate,"as temperatures at 14 of the 16 host venues are expected to exceed dangerous levels.
"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,"Fifa's statement added.
"Inside the stadium footprint, pricing for water bottles for the Fifa World Cup 2026 will remain consistent with other events held at each stadium."
This policy change comes amid complaints about "extortionate" ticket prices and inflated train fares affecting fans.
Fans were also prohibited from bringing bottles into stadiums during the last World Cup in Qatar.
The Free Lions England fans' group described the move as a
"strange, late change."
In a statement posted on X, the group said:
"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!"
'A Basic First Defence Against the Extreme Heat Risks'
In response to heat safety concerns, Fifa has introduced one three-minute hydration break in each half during every game at the tournament.
However, Ollie Jay, a professor of heat and health at the University of Sydney, expressed greater concern for spectator welfare than that of players.
"If you look at the athlete population, all of them are very fit,"Jay said.
"Whereas if you think about the spectators, you've got a broad range of different people that will be attending, from young kids to elderly people, people with chronic diseases, people taking different types of medications - all of which results in different levels of heat sensitivity.
"Your average spectator is probably going to be less resilient to the heat than these highly-conditioned professional athletes."
He warned that heat strain could accumulate progressively as fans are exposed to heat during their journey to the stadium, risking arrival in a dehydrated state.
"It's not just the temperature that we need to be concerned about,"Jay added.
"If you think about your average spectator sitting in a closely confined area surrounded by lots of other people, they'll be in direct sunlight. It might be humid. The airflow might be low.
"And therefore, the amount of heat stress that their body has to cope with could be quite significant."
In May, Jay was among 20 experts who signed an open letter to Fifa warning that current guidelines left players at risk of serious harm.
Plans for misting systems and shaded areas were described as
"inadequate"and Jay stated that the bottle ban further endangers fans:
"Unless the cooling controls are really successful, I would imagine this decision [to ban water bottles in stadiums] will clearly heighten the risk of heat-related health incidents."
Dr Theodore Keeping from Imperial College London, author of a World Weather Attribution study on heat safety at the tournament, emphasized the importance of access to water.
"Allowing fair and equitable access to hydration is a basic first defence against the extreme heat risks climate change is bringing to this World Cup,"Keeping said.
Andrew Simms, from the New Weather Institute, criticized Fifa's approach.
"Is Fifa climate-trolling the game it's meant to protect?
"It is already staging the most polluting World Cup ever, sponsored by one of the world's biggest climate-polluting oil companies, and has heat safety protocols heavily criticised by world leading health experts.
"Now making it even more difficult for fans to stay safe in a competition vulnerable to global heating seems to be a reckless rejection of Fifa's duty of care."
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