UEFA has asked players in the ongoing European championships to stop moving strategically placed sponsor drinks from news conference platforms.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal was the first to start the trend when he pushed aside two Coca-Cola bottles from his vicinity, replacing them with a water bottle.
Italy’s Manuel Locatelli joined the Portugal star by also removing Coca-Cola bottles during a press conference.
Paul Pogba, a Muslim, who does not drink alcohol, also copied Ronaldo by removing a distinctive green bottle of official Euro 2020 beer sponsor Heineken, even though the product is marketed as 0.0% alcohol.
Martin Kallen, Euro 2020 tournament director said UEFA has “communicated with the teams regarding this matter”, Sky Sports reports.
“It is important because the revenues of the sponsors are important for the tournament and for European football.”
Kallen said tournament rules require compliance with the football governing body’s promises to sponsors, though players with religious objections “don’t need to have a bottle there”.
