Qatar to employ police officers from foreign nations during 2022 WC, says official

Many people have often wondered how Qatar will manage the large number of spectators who are expected to descend on the country during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A senior security official of the tournament has shed light on some of the country’s plans for crowd management during the mega event.

Major Ali Mohammed Al Ali, deputy executive director for security with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said the country will hire policemen from different countries for the duration of the tournament to keep order and calm.

“We’re working with a lot of national, regional and international organisations, countries, agencies,” he said, according to Gulf Times.

“We’re the only country in the world who’ve 10 years to prepare for the World Cup,” he added.

Fear of hooligans destroying the spirit of the game has been raised from different parts of the world. Most recently, there were problems between English and Russian fans during Euro 2016 in France.

When asked whether international police officers, with experience of dealing with crowd trouble, would be in Qatar to help, the official said: “For sure.”

Officers will be drawn from those countries ‘that qualify’ for 2022, said Ali, according to The Peninsula.

Around 1.3 million fans are expected to visit Qatar in 2022. A majority of them atre expected to stay in Doha, which could also lead to potential problems, reported IOL.com.za.

But Ali, speaking ahead of a ‘Major Events Security Conference’ in Doha, said organisers were ready to provide a benchmark tournament.

“We’ve prepared for everything and we’re ready and it’ll be the most safe and secure World Cup,” he said.