Fact check: Fabricated image claims to show limitations on fan conduct at 2022 World Cup

Ana Faguy, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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The claim: Graphic shows banned conduct at the 2022 World Cup

An image claiming to be an official graphic for the 2022 World Cup is circulating on social media.

The graphic – entitled "Qatar welcomes you!" –  advises attendees of the World Cup to avoid certain conduct to respect the religion and culture of the Qatari people. The image purports to ban drinking, homosexuality, immodesty, profanity, loud music and dating.

"Qatar's rules for people who will attend the World Cup 2022 in the country," reads the caption of the Facebook post.

One Oct. 6 Facebook post of the image received more than 70 shares in two weeks.

But the graphic is not authentic, according to a spokesperson for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the entity in charge of infrastructure for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The user who shared the post told USA TODAY a Facebook user sent the image to them, providing no evidence it was legitimate.

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FILE - The FIFA World Cup soccer trophy is displayed Thursday, June 16, 2022, in New York. German top division soccer club Hoffenheim is skipping this year's World Cup in Qatar. The club says on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, that it will not give any coverage to this year's World Cup. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)
FILE - The FIFA World Cup soccer trophy is displayed Thursday, June 16, 2022, in New York. German top division soccer club Hoffenheim is skipping this year's World Cup in Qatar. The club says on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, that it will not give any coverage to this year's World Cup. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)

The image is not real

“The 'Qatar Welcomes You' graphic circulating on social media is not from an official source and contains factually incorrect information," a spokesperson for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, told USA TODAY in an email.

The statement sent to USA TODAY was also posted on the Road to 2022 Twitter account, the official account for Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022.

"The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, FIFA World Cup 2022 (Q22) and FIFA will shortly be issuing an extensive fan guide that disputes a lot of the information being circulated," reads the statement.

The fan guide will be launched on social media "any day now," according to the committee spokesperson. As of Oct. 24, the fan guide is not online.

Some details in the graphic are contradicted by official policies.

Last month, Qatari officials announced they would allow beer with alcohol to be sold at certain stadiums, despite the nation's restrictions on alcohol. Earlier this year, the leader overseeing security for the World Cup said members of the LGBTQ community would be welcomed at the games, despite same-sex relations being criminalized in Qatar.

“Tournament organisers have been clear since the outset that everyone is welcome to visit Qatar and enjoy the FIFA World Cup 2022," reads the committee's statement. "Qatar has always been an open, tolerant and welcoming nation. International fans and visitors during the FIFA World Cup will get to experience this first hand.” 

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Our rating: Altered

Based on our research, we rate ALTERED a graphic claiming to show  banned conduct at the 2022 World Cup. Officials from the World Cup said the image is not authentic. In the lead-up to the World Cup, Qatari officials have announced some policies which contradict the graphic.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Fabricated image is not fan guidance for 2022 World Cup