EXCLUSIVE: This will be the best World Cup ever says 18-stone England superfan famous for stripping off in the crowd - even if he can't get his belly out or drink beer at the games

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An England fan weighing 18 stones and famous for watching matches with his top off says Qatar will still be the best World Cup ever, despite killjoy officials banning him from getting his belly out or drinking beer in the stadiums.

As hordes of excited Three Lions fans are heading to airports to jet out to Qatar for England's opening match with Iran on Monday, tattooed Paul Gregory said he would be getting stuck into his last beer 'for a while' in the departure lounge.

Paul, affectionately known as Tango Man, said: 'No drinking in the stadium or even near the stadium is a bit of a shocker. And Budweiser is one of the sponsors, so I thought we'd be safe on that score.

'Fifa might be causing themselves problems with that decision because fans like to have a few beers before the game. 

'Now, rather than arriving at the stadium in good time, they'll be leaving it to the last minute to get on the metro.'

Paul admitted he is 'really disappointed' after the Football Association told him the straight-laced hosts told him to keep his top on during games.

It's a bitter irony for Paul, 59, that after exposing his torso in all weathers following Sheffield Wednesday and England, he is now banned from doing it at the hottest venue ever. 

As hordes of excited Three Lions fans are heading to airports to jet out to Qatar for England's opening match with Iran on Monday, tattooed Paul Gregory said he would be getting stuck into his last beer 'for a while' in the departure lounge

Paul admitted he is 'really disappointed' after the Football Association told him the straight-laced hosts told him to keep his top on during games

'The FA asked the question,' he said, 'and they said "No", so I will be wearing a bright, orange t-shirt instead.

'I'm a bit gutted really. I am something of a talisman for the England team with my shirt off. Everyone recognises me and it has never caused a problem or caused offence to anyone. It is like a trademark and it will seem odd to be at a football match with my shirt on.

'We'll just have to see what the vibe is really like when we get there. People say all sorts but then in the heat of the moment who knows how it will go.'

Similarly, Paul's girlfriend Rachel, 51, a lorry driver from Barnsley who shares his love of Sheffield Wednesday, will also have to observe previously unknown etiquettes in the Gulf Kingdom.

'She'll have to cover her shoulders and wear shorts down to her knee,' he said. 'She'll be more affected than me because she likes the hot weather. I hate it. I like the cold, that's why I always take my shirt off.'

Whether Paul will be able to keep to this rule under the pressure of an England match in 35-degree heat is yet be seen.

Sitting in a pair of shorts and flip-flops on a cold November day, he isn't sure. 'Who knows,' he said.

Despite his hatred of the heat, the prospect of £13 pints in the fan zones and the concerns about Qatar as a venue, Paul said nothing was going to stop him from cheering on England.

'Following England is what we do,' he said. 'It doesn't matter the venue. I feel sorry for what has happened over there with regards to deaths of workers, but if England are playing then I'll be there.

'We have saved for three years for this. My partner and I put aside £100-a-month as an England kitty. We don't go to the pub or to concerts and, yes, we are very privileged to be going but this is what we spend on.'

It's a bitter irony for Paul, 59, that after exposing his torso in all weathers following Sheffield Wednesday and England, he is now banned from doing it at the hottest venue ever

Whether Paul will be able to keep to this rule under the pressure of an England match in 35-degree heat is yet be seen

Paul, who is covered with tattoos devoted to football and family, was dubbed Tango Man over 30 years ago while watching his beloved Sheffield Wednesday play Crystal Palace.

He recalled: 'The Palace fans all started shouting, "You Fat B******d" at me and I was stood next to this lad who was twice my size.

'He said, "Can you hear what they are saying to you?" which I thought was a cheek coming from him, but I just took my top off to help defuse the situation and then they started shouting "Tango" and it just stuck.'

Paul, a father of two, who has never been in trouble in all the years of following his country, first travelled to watch England at the World Cup in Spain in 1982.

'It gave me the bug,' he said. 'All the rooms were triple booked and there were loads of us all thrown into rooms together.

'England fans get a very bad press but it was like being part of a big family. Everyone supported different clubs but we all come together.'

Paul admits that fewer travelling England fans are travelling this time and they may be outnumbered by Iranians for the first match but he remains resolutely optimistic.

'It's a one-off,' he said, 'we'll never have one at this time of year again so it just adds to the spice of it.

'There was loads of negativity about Russia being the host and people saying we shouldn't be going but that was the best one I have been to. It was absolutely fantastic.

Despite his hatred of the heat, the prospect of £13 pints in the fan zones and the concerns about Qatar as a venue, Paul said nothing was going to stop him from cheering on England

'I'll never forget us all drinking with the Russian fans in Red Square and going for a six or seven mile walk through all the backstreets of Moscow.

'I hope this will be another one, billed as the worst World Cup ever, that will prove otherwise. I know it will be quieter without so many bars but you'll always find somewhere.'

The cost is great, however, and the longer England last the more expensive it will become.

Paul said his tickets through to the Final, now stored on his phone under the Hayaa app, cost him £1308, his one-way flight, booked back in April, was £600 and their apartment for 10 days to cover the group stages, was £200-a-night.

But he is quick to defend Qatar against accusations that it is unusually expensive.

'I have done my research and found that bars run a lot of 30 per cent off deals at certain times and a lot of the time ladies will drink for free,' he said. 'Plus all the transport is free and taxis are cheap so while some things will be more, other things will be less.

'The food looks out of this world. I can't wait.'

Paul has had a new tattoo done for this World Cup – three lions and an owl inked onto the inside of his forearm.

And he is confident that this could be the moment when England emerge triumphant and his hero Harry Kane ends up with his hands on the trophy.

'Having watched them in Russia and then last year they are getting closer all the time,' he said. 'We have a lot of good players.

'And I always like it when people are slagging England off as they are at the moment. That's when England prove people wrong.

'Their recent performances have been all about players not getting injured and don't count for anything. I have great expectations. I just hope it doesn't end in penalty disappointment again.'