FANS at Qatar’s World Cup qualifier against Hong Kong in Doha on Thursday were given free tickets to attend the match, AFP has learned.

Free entry was given to workers, schoolchildren and their families to help boost the attendance to 10,170, the largest crowd for any of Qatar’s four home qualification matches so far.

Many fans were also given free scarfs and Qatar flags.

Among those given free entry and who spoke to AFP were a group of 25 Nepalese workers, who said they were given the tickets for free by their employers.

Another fan who gave his name as Rayhan, was at the match with his family after his son was given free tickets by his school.

It was the first football game he had ever attended, admitted Rayhan. However he left with his family at halftime.

“To be honest, I much prefer cricket,” he said. “I don’t think it is a good match, I don’t understand Hong Kong’s game plan.” Hong Kong needed to win to stay in the competition but lost 2-0.

Qatar, who will host the World Cup in 2022, had already qualified for the next round to determine which teams from Asia will go to the Russian World Cup finals in 2018.

Another fan, who refused to give his name, had also seen enough by halftime. “We were given free tickets by my son’s school. It is not my first game.”

Qatar has consistently been accused of a lack of footballing pedigree since being awarded the World Cup, a charge which the country’s football authorities deny, claiming there is a deep passion for the game among Qataris.

There have also been accusations that foreign labourers have been paid to attend domestic league matches.

Qatar also flew in fans from Spain last year to support the home side during the world handball championships.