Fifa will now allow fans to bring a sealed disposable bottle of water into World Cup grounds following a backlash from fans and experts.
Earlier this week, match ticket holders were informed that reusable bottles would not be permitted in stadia, despite having been previously assured transparent empty bottles up to one litre would be allowed.
Sir Keir Starmer was among those who criticised the move as a money-making exercise.
In a change of policy, Fifa announced last night that fans would now be allowed to bring ‘one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590ml), factory sealed disposable water bottle’ to all matches in the US and Canada.
World Cup chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi said that ‘hard-sided’ reusable containers could pose a safety and security risk.
‘We are thrilled to kick up the Fifa World Cup next week and look forward to an exciting tournament for everyone’, he added.
If not allowed to bring their own water or fill up their own bottles, fans are forced to buy beverages sold onsite, which are usually prohibitively expensive.
Ticket holders for this year’s tournament have already coughed up between £160 and £450 for a single seat.
At last year’s Club World Cup in the US, fans were permitted to bring empty bottles, with water on sales for prices between £3 and £4.50.
Fifa defended its original decision to ban empty containers as a measure to ‘prevent risk and injury to players and attendees’.
But Sir Keir said the decision was ‘the wrong policy’.
‘I can’t help but think it’s about making money’, he told LBC.
‘So you can’t bring plastic bottles in but you can buy a bottle of water when you get in the crowd? And then it’ll be expensive. The tickets themselves cost a fortune, far too expensive in my view.’
England fan group Free Lions posted said the original move was the ‘latest money-grab’.
It posted: ‘What next? Suncream banned and fans forced to buy it in stadiums?
‘For all the effort they’re going to with drinks breaks for players, this is a strange, late change. In all our discussions, free water availability in stadiums was key.
‘We were assured by Fifa that fans will have the ability to bring their own water bottle.Naturally, supporters’ first thought is this is just the latest money-grab.’
It comes as experts warned that temperatures could reach dangerous levels at all but two of the 16 stadia across North America.
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