FIFA's policy on tobacco
Initiative description: Effectively communicating FIFA’s Event Policy on Tobacco to relevant stakeholders, such as FIFA and Q22 staff, official site contractors, volunteers and attendees, before and during test events and the tournament, through verbal announcements, signage, and direct warnings. This will include the development and implementation of codes of conduct, training and guidance for event staff and volunteers, as well as a monitoring and enforcement procedure for each event site to define how to address any non-compliance with FIFA’s Event Policy on Tobacco as well as related local laws.
The FIFA Event Policy on Tobacco was applied during test events and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Over 71,000 staff, volunteers, security personnel, and contractors were trained on the implementation of the policy. Ticket holders were informed and reminded about the policy objectives via numerous communication channels. The various measures implemented helped to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke.
FIFA Event Policy on Tobacco
To protect the health and safety of athletes, spectators, and the workforce, FIFA has implemented tobacco-control measures at all FIFA World Cups™ since 2002 and all FIFA events since 2017. This is in accordance with the FIFA Event Policy on Tobacco which aims to respect and protect the right of the majority of the population, who are non-smokers, to breathe clean air not contaminated by harmful substances found in tobacco products and e-smoking devices. The FIFA policy prohibits smoking and vaping in all official FIFA World Cup™ sites, except in outdoor smoking areas, when these are made available. Also, in accordance with WHO guidelines, it also forbids all links with the tobacco industry in any form by banning all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, all sales of tobacco products or related tobacco products within event sites and commits to provide information to all relevant stakeholders on the Policy. Qatar’s national legislation also prohibits smoking in closed public spaces.
Test Events
In the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ a number of test events were held. At the FIFA Club World Cup 2019™, outdoor smoking areas were provided. For the 2020 edition and the FIFA Arab Cup 2021™, due to several reasons including COVID-19 protocols, a full smoking ban was implemented at the stadiums.
For all test events, staff and volunteers were trained in the implementation of the FIFA Event Policy on Tobacco and their roles in terms of enforcement. Ministry of Public Health inspectors also supported the enforcement efforts, whilst no smoking / no vaping signage was displayed and announcements were made across the stadiums to prevent smoking in prohibited areas. Social media was also used to remind fans about the smoking and vaping prohibition in advance of and during the test events.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™
For the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the stadiums, training sites and the FIFA Fan Festival™ had a total of 205 outdoor smoking areas setup where smokers could smoke or vape in a safe location, away from non-smokers. The location of the smoking areas was integrated into the venue wayfinding to make them easier to locate by fans.
Over 71,000 staff, volunteers, security personnel and contractors were trained on the FIFA Event Policy on tobacco and the enforcement procedures as it related to their roles, through a blended learning approach including an e-learning module, videos, in person role specific and venue specific training.
Building on the collaboration from the test events, the Ministry of Public Health inspectors supported the enforcement efforts during match time by approaching people smoking in prohibited areas, and when available directing them to outdoor smoking areas, as well as confiscating lighters and matches in close cooperation with wider security forces who also played an enforcement role (lighters and matches were prohibited items in the stadiums and FIFA Fan Festival™).
Ticket holders were made aware of the prohibition of lighters and matches and restrictions on smoking and vaping in advance of the matches through the Hayya (Fan ID) app, fan guide, and email. No smoking / vaping signage was placed across the venues, and behavioral nudge posters were placed in stadium toilets where smoking violations are prevalent to remind people of the negative health impacts of smoking, and volunteers held signs to raise awareness that no smoking or vaping was allowed in the stadium.
Throughout the tournament, a short video clip featuring former Brazilian FIFA World Cup Champion Kaká was also promoted across social media to encourage fans not to smoke in prohibited areas. This video was part of a wider campaign delivered in partnership with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organization.
Overall, the collective measures taken during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ (and test events) helped to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke. These efforts were recognized in May 2023 when Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health received the World Health Organization Award for World No Tobacco Day. The recognition was for their collaboration with tournament organisers in ensuring a smoke-free environment during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.