FIFA 2022 World Cup Qatar organizers said they would take a decision on whether to adopt Russia’s Fan ID scheme when they meet with their Russian counterparts soon.
The Fan ID, which was a personalised document that every match ticket-holder was required to have by the governing body, provided fans with visa-free entry to Russia at the 2018 tournament.
Nasser al Khater, Assistant Secretary-General, and Tournament Affairs, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said:”We look forward to speaking to our colleagues in Russia very soon to see what the lessons have been learned from the system. One of the main topics is the successes or lack of success of the Fan ID.”
“From what we learned, it was a huge success, we just want to make sure that we understand where the positives and negatives are before we take a decision.”
The World Cup in Russia faced some issues with its Fan ID system after loopholes were discovered in its process.
The English Football Supporters Federation said it was able to process a number of Fan IDs using the same match ticket reference number, allowing those without a ticket entry to the country. FIFA said data protection regulations prohibited it from sharing details of fans that had bought tickets with the Russian authorities, which has led to gaps being exposed in the system.
In addition, prospective asylum seekers attempted to enter European countries bordering from Russia with a Fan ID. They headed for the border with Finland or Norway or Belarus border with Poland, authorities in the three had reported.
Additionally, Khater stated that Qatar had plans to build three or five FIFA Fan Fest areas. There were eleven Fan Fest locations in the last World Cup.”Right now we are looking at the final number of Fan Fest. We are thinking of having it between three and five.”
“Entry in to the fan zone will be for anyone who wants to come, and time spent in the area will definitely be comfortable, safe, and unforgettable,” he added.
The FIFA Fan Fest is usually the best place to watch World Cup matches if you’re not at the stadium. It is a unique place to plunge into the unrivaled atmosphere of a football celebration, while watching live coverage of matches, together with passionate fans from all over the world.
Source: Albawaba
