The FIFA World Cup 2022 is being held in Qatar, and the rules and regulations applied by the organizers have raised many eyebrows before the onset of the tournament. Now that the World Cup is at the knock-out stage, the disparity in the treatment of fans from other countries is still garnering attention.
Reports suggest that fans wearing pride colors are restricted from entering the stadium. The sale of alcohol is not permitted in the stadium and Qatar has banned beer at stadiums, even the fans are supposed to abide by specific dress codes if they want to enter the stadium to watch their teams play. According to reports, flyers have been distributed at the stadiums that state the rules of how a woman should dress – their shoulders and knees should be covered.
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During the matches, the fans have been requested to respect the culture by the local organizing committees. Even the UK Foreign Office advised in Qatar, women fans are expected to cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts.
During Croatia’s opening match with Morocco, former Miss Croatia entered the stadium in skimpy attire. The model labeled the World Cup’s sexiest fan, made an appearance in a red and white bikini top with skinny-fit leggings which made the crowd stare at her.
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The 30-year-old model, Ivana Knoll is a former Miss Croatia and a social media influencer with more than 1 million followers on Instagram. Her dress has sparked a controversy as no one protested about it.
In a photo posted after the match, men were spotted ‘ogling’ and clicking photos of Knoll at the stadium
The photos of the local Qatari men staring at the model and taking her pictures have been circulated online which caught the eye of many local fans.
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To celebrate her one million followers milestone on Instagram, she posted a photo where a couple of local Qatari men are smiling and taking photos of the 5′ 11 model.
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View this post on Instagram
Meanwhile, Mohammed Hassan Al-Jefairi, a prominent Qatari entrepreneur defended the actions of the Qatari men with a tweet
Replying to a tweet from @TrollFootball that was captioned:
“Men will be men.”
Men will be men pic.twitter.com/x0Xcxte7Iq
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) December 2, 2022
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He wrote that the local men are not clicking her pictures because they like her, rather they don’t like the way she is dressed as it is against their culture.
Mr. Al-Jefairi’s tweeted,
“Just for your info they take a photo not because they like her but because they don’t like the way she is mis-dressed on regards to our culture. You can confirm this with any local Qatari Probably to report it.”
Just for your info they take a photo not because they like her but because they don’t like the way she is miss dressed on regards to our culture
You can confirm this with any local Qatari
Probably to report it
— محمد الجفيري (@maljefairi) December 2, 2022
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Netizens are not buying Al-Jefairi’s explanation
And many of them responded to his tweet with their personal opinions, take a look at some of them,
In my culture that’s gay https://t.co/56MPUARShk pic.twitter.com/NnMwcXv35F
— Engelberth (@Engelberthhhhh) December 4, 2022
I beg to differ sir. Yeah they shouldn’t meddle into your politics but you should let them be a little bit free. They are not disregarding your culture. You know how they are then why did you propose for the world cup knowing they’ll come. You’ve made this so hard for them.
— ANKAN SARKAR (@hehesiuu07) December 3, 2022
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha what complete and utterly bollocks. Is that why he’s smiling as well? Because he doesn’t like how she’s “miss dressed”?
— CJP (@OffTrack94) December 3, 2022
The face of a very very upset man 😌 pic.twitter.com/sSdY9e9Zxc
— Oluwapelumi Adebanjo (@Oluwapelz85) December 3, 2022
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Stalks on the boys
— David Prendergast (@prender90) December 3, 2022
sure he didn’t like it pic.twitter.com/591yKM8Nxb
— no⁴⁴ 🏳️🌈 | octacampeão (@worldchamp44) December 3, 2022
On the culture clash, Knoll said
‘First I was thinking if the World Cup is happening there (Qatar), for sure they will allow us everything to make it comfortable for all fans without any of the restrictions.
‘Then I heard about the rules, and I was shocked. The dress code forbids showing shoulders, knees, belly and everything and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t even have the clothes to cover all of that.’
‘I was super angry because if I’m not a Muslim and if we in Europe respect hijab and niqab, I think they need also to respect our way of life, our religion and in the end me wearing dresses, bikinis because I’m Catholic from Croatia who is here because of the World Cup.’
She also added,
‘But when I arrived, I was surprised they were not making any problems about dressing, they allow you to wear everything what you want – except in government buildings, and in the end that’s fine.’
Well, whatever the situation is Miss Croatia surely did gain many followers for her World Cup avatar that broke the internet.
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