Wales will address issues raised by Qatar’s laws and customs during this month’s Nations League camp… with manager Rob Page stating him and his team don’t want to ‘unintentionally upset anyone’
- Wales will play their first World Cup fixture in 64 years in Qatar this November
- Rob Page guided the country through the play-offs to reach the tournament
- He says they do not want to unintentionally upset anyone while in the country
- Team will have meetings in their Nations League camp to address any issuesÂ
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World Cup-bound Wales will address any issues raised by Qatar’s laws and customs at their Nations League camp this week.
Wales will play at their first World Cup for 64 years in November when the tiny Gulf state becomes the first Arab nation to hold the tournament.
A cultural awareness guide to Qatar, addressing issues such as dress code and alcohol consumption, has been posted on the tournament’s official website.
Rob Page said that any issues relating to the laws and customs of the country would be addressed this month
Wales manager Robert Page, whose side conclude their Nations League campaign in Belgium on Thursday and at home to Poland three days later, said: ‘We’ve got meetings (planned) to address anything we think is going to be an issue out there.
‘It’s important we respect their culture when we get out there. We don’t want to unintentionally upset anyone.
‘We have to understand what we’re going into, what to do and what not to do.’
Accusations over the treatment of migrant workers and a poor record of human rights have plagued Qatar since it was controversially awarded this winter’s finals back in 2010.
Wales reached their first World Cup in 64 years when they beat Ukraine in the play-offs in June
Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney said after qualification was secured through the play-offs in June that players would be canvassed over their views relating to issues surrounding the World Cup.
Male homosexuality is punishable by a prison sentence and same-sex marriages are not recognised by the Qatari government.
When asked in May about gay people attending the tournament, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said ‘we expect and we want people to respect our culture’.
Wales will play their three group games against England, Iran and the United States at the 40,000-capacity Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Page was part of an FAW delegation to Qatar in July and said: ‘It was 44 degrees (Celsius), crazy hot, and thankfully it’s not going to be that in November.
Page has praised the facilities in Qatar following his trip to the country with a Wales delegation in July
‘They’ve done their best to accommodate that. I went to the stadium where we play our three games and it is exceptional.
‘They’ve put air conditioning units all around the pitch, I could feel it from where I was stood.
‘I’m not so sure the players will feel it from the middle of the pitch, and certainly our supporters won’t from the top of the stand.
‘I’m really pleased with the hotel and the training facilities are outstanding, being out there made us look forward to it even more.
‘It’s not cheap to get there and I feel for the supporters because I want them to have that great experience. But we haven’t been at a World Cup for a long time, and I believe they will get to Qatar.’