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Anheuser-Busch InBev is on solid legal ground to sue FIFA after the global soccer group abruptly revealed that beer sales will be banned at World Cup stadiums in Qatar — but some insiders predict the beer giant will restrain itself from taking legal action.
Qatar, the conservative Muslim country that’s hosting the World Cup, reversed its earlier decision to allow alcohol sales at specially designated areas at the eight venues which will play host to 64 matches over the next month. The abrupt announcement came just 48 hours before the games are set to begin.
Budweiser, the Anheuser-Bush subsidiary which paid $75 million to sponsor the bash, initially had a tongue-in-cheek reaction to news of the ban. The official Bud Twitter account remarked: “Well, this is awkward.”
The post was quickly deleted.
In a statement to The Post, Anheuser-Busch InBev declined to say what possible legal action it may take in the wake of FIFA’s decision, but its language on Friday appeared conciliatory.
“Some of the planned stadium activations cannot move forward due to circumstances beyond our control,” an Anheuser-Busch InBev spokesperson told The Post. “As partners of FIFA for over three decades, we look forward to our activations of FIFA World Cup campaigns around the world to celebrate football with our consumers.
