Reacting to a bottle-snatching trend at the European Championship started by Cristiano Ronaldo, UEFA has asked players on the 24 teams to stop removing strategically placed sponsor drinks from the news conference platforms.
Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Manuel Locatelli removed sponsor bottles away from the view of cameras when taking their seats at media briefings this week.
Euro 2020 tournament director Martin Kallen said on Thursday UEFA has “communicated with the teams regarding this matter”.
“It is important because the revenues of the sponsors are important for the tournament and for European football,” Kallen said in a briefing.
Pogba, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, objected to the distinctive green bottle of official Euro 2020 beer sponsor Heineken. The beer is marketed as non-alcoholic, with 0 percent alcohol.
Kallen said tournament rules require compliance with UEFA’s promises to sponsors, though players with religious objections “don’t need to have a bottle there”.