Pogba removes Heineken beer bottle at the press conference

Sports

TBS Report
16 June, 2021, 12:25 pm
Last modified: 16 June, 2021, 03:47 pm
Pogba, a devout Muslim, was seen moving the beer bottle away from his eyesight as he undertook media obligations following France's opening game victory over Germany on Tuesday night.

Paul Pogba is the latest footballer to be in the mood to pander to sponsors after the Frenchman removed a bottle of Heineken placed in front of him at a Euro 2020 press conference.

Pogba, a devout Muslim, was seen moving the beer bottle away from his eyesight as he undertook media obligations following France's opening game victory over Germany on Tuesday night.

For Muslims, alcohol is 'haraam' or forbidden, with the Manchester United star's removal of the bottle likely to be due to his unwillingness to endorse the competition's sponsor. 

Heineken is the official beer partner of Euro 2020.

Pogba's stance comes after Cristiano Ronaldo removed two bottles of Coca-Cola placed in front of him prior to Portugal's game against Hungary.

The health-obsessed 36-year-old - who has previously revealed that it irritates him when his son drinks fizzy drinks - moved the two bottles away from his chair before shouting in Portuguese: 'Drink water!'

He then brandished a water bottle and placed it in front of himself for the remainder of the interview, muttering 'Coca-Cola' with noticeable disdain.

The Athletic reported that Coca-Cola's shares dropped 1.6 percent dip in value following Ronaldo's cheeky stunt, a market value drop of approximately $4 billion.

Coca-Cola issued a statement in response to Ronaldo's antics, saying "everyone is entitled to their drink preferences" and everyone has different "tastes and needs".

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