Manchester United and French national team Muslim star Paul Pogba removed a bottle of Heineken beer from his press conference after helping guide France to a 1-0 win against Germany at the European Championships.
Pogba was named Man of the Match for his incredible performance that contributed to granting France very important victory.
The devout Muslim took the bottle of Heineken, a beer manufacturer and one of the sponsors of the EURO2020, and placed it on the floor before speaking to the press on Tuesday, Metro reported.
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Pogba hails from the Muslim West African country of Guinea where Islam defines no less than 85% of its total population, according to the 2013 estimate of the United States Department of State.
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Devout Muslim
When Pogba helped Manchester United win the 2017 Europa League, he went to Makkah to give thanks to Allah for the successful season. He made a similar trip ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
“It’s everything. That’s what makes me thankful for everything,” said Pogba two years ago about Islam.
“It made me change, realize things in life. I guess, maybe, it makes me more peaceful inside.”
Islam takes an uncompromising stand in prohibiting intoxicants. It forbids Muslims from drinking or even selling alcohol.
The general rule in Islam is that any beverage that gets people intoxicated when taken is unlawful, both in small and large quantities, whether it is alcohol, drugs, fermented raisin drink or something else.
Alcoholic awards have been quashed by Muslim stars.
In 2012, Yaya Toure turned down the traditional post-match bottle of bubbly, saying: “I don’t drink because I am a Muslim, so you keep it.”
During World Cup 2018, Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy refused his Man of the Match award as the award was sponsored by beer maker Budweiser.