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FIFA bans refillable water bottles at World Cup venues

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • FIFA has banned fans from bringing refillable water bottles to World Cup venues in a last-minute policy change.
  • The organization cited safety grounds, stating the ban prevents risks and injuries to players and attendees.
  • Despite experts warning of health risks from extreme heat, bottled water will be sold inside venues at prices consistent with other events.

Fans attending the upcoming World Cup will be prohibited from bringing their own refillable water bottles into stadiums, according to a last-minute policy shift by FIFA. This change forces attendees to purchase bottled water sold within the venues, a move reported by The Athletic.

For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.

— FIFAAn updated stadium code of conduct regarding fan items.

Previously, FIFA's official stadium code of conduct explicitly permitted empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles up to one liter in capacity. However, the guidelines have been updated to "explicitly ban refillable bottles," with the updated code stating, "reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium."

FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff.

— FIFA spokespersonExplaining the rationale behind the ban on refillable water bottles.

A FIFA spokesperson told AFP that the decision was made for safety reasons, noting that several World Cup venues already had similar restrictions. "FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff," the spokesperson said. "FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees."

FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.

— FIFA spokespersonFurther justification for the ban on refillable water bottles.

This policy change comes amid warnings from experts about potential health risks due to extreme heat at the open-air venues. A report by the World Weather Attribution research group estimated that a significant number of World Cup games could be played in conditions exceeding 26 degrees Celsius Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT), a measure of heat stress. At last year's FIFA Club World Cup, fans also complained about searing temperatures and were barred from bringing water bottles into venues. FIFA stated that misting stations, fans, and cooling tents would be available, and bottled water prices would remain consistent with other stadium events.

Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations, and FIFA is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums.

— FIFA spokespersonHighlighting existing venue policies that influenced the decision.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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