Sun InBev plans to file a lawsuit against authorities in Rostov.GETTY IMAGES
FIFA's beer sponsor aims to sue Rostov, Russia, city authorities "over their decision to prohibit the sale of alcohol at the local stadium," according to RT. Sun InBev, a Russian department of Belgian brewing corporation AB InBev, which makes beer brands such as Budweiser, Stella Artois and Corona, "plans to file a lawsuit against Rostov authorities." The issue is a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages at Rostov Arena, a venue for the 2018 World Cup, "citing a law which prohibits use of alcohol in places of mass gathering." In '13, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing FIFA and its partners to sell alcohol at the 2018 World Cup, "lifting an alcohol ban at sporting events" in force since '05. Sun InBev Corporate Affairs Dir Oraz Durdyev said, "At the moment, we are continuing our dialogue with representatives of regional government to resolve the issue." He added that the company had a "very positive" experience selling beer at last year's Confederations Cup in Russia, with "no drunken incidents being registered at football stadiums" (RT, 1/19).
