Skip to main content

FIFA blocks stadium rock concerts ahead of 2018 World Cup

  • Author:
  • Publish date:

ZURICH (AP) FIFA has blocked rock concerts from being staged in World Cup stadiums ahead of the 2018 tournament in Russia.

FIFA passed a rule ''to ensure that the field of play is of the highest quality, it shall not be used for a non-football event'' for two months before a stadium's first match.

FIFA's updated World Cup regulations require ''explicit prior approval'' for exemptions.

Rock band AC/DC played in Marseille weeks before a European Championship match in June. France coach Didier Deschamps called the Stade Velodrome turf a ''disaster'' after beating Albania 2-0, blaming the concert. The turf was then re-laid and struggled to take root in heavy rain.

FIFA will also limit matches in the 12 Russian stadiums for one month prior to the tournament.