The Union of European Football Associations is the administrative body for soccer in Europe. Euro 2020 is the European soccer championship.
A hadith depicts Muhammad saying: “Verily Allah, the Exalted, has forbidden wine. So who hears this verse and he has anything of it with him, he should neither drink it nor sell it.” (Sahih Muslim 3835)
The principle is always and everywhere the same: in Muslim countries, one should conform one’s behavior to Muslim sensibilities. In non-Muslim countries, one should conform one’s behavior to Muslim sensibilities.
“Euro 2020: in order not to upset Muslim players, UEFA agrees to remove Heineken bottles from press conferences,” Valeurs Actuelles, June 25, 2021 (thanks to Medforth):
It was Paul Pogba who, on June 16, initiated the controversy. Arriving at a press conference, organized as part of Euro 2020, the French midfielder took care to remove a bottle of Heineken beer from the table where all the sponsors of the competition were present. A gesture paralleling that of Cristiano Ronaldo, who, a few days before, had withdrawn two bottles of Coca-Cola from in front of him, proclaiming with a wave of the hand that he preferred water. However, Le Parisien reports that Heineken has spent more than 40 million euros to be able to feature its logo and name throughout Euro 2020. There is no doubt that Paul Pogba’s gesture will therefore have irritated Heineken and UEFA, prompting the European football body to legislate. It is therefore now official, as of Thursday, June 24: Muslim players will now have the option of signaling to UEFA, before a press conference, that they do not wish to see a bottle of beer in front of their microphones.
An exceptional breach of the rules
Originally, however, UEFA did not allow players to interfere with sponsorship contracts entered into by its sales department. Nevertheless, in a competition already marked by political conflicts – anti-racism, LGBT activism, Russian-Ukrainian tensions, etc. – the European football body has reportedly decided to make an exception. Martin Kallen, director of the Euro, evokes, according to Le Parisien, an “understanding” when it comes to a gesture linked to a “religious belief.” An inconsistency for many personalities, while during the controversy over LGBT rights in Hungary, UEFA disengaged by emphasizing “its political and religious neutrality.” After all, that’s not the only quirk surrounding this hoppy debate. In this case, indeed, everyone seems to be on purpose ignoring that the Heineken beer put forward to sponsor the Euro … is a beer containing 0% alcohol.
Chris from Cincinnati says
If the Muslim players also object to a FREE and EQUAL Woman Reporter, asking them questions, UNCOVERED – will the UEFA also follow Sharia Law and oppress women so as not to offend SOME Muslims?
mortimer says
GRADUALISM = a gradual take-over.
Next, they will insist on interrupting soccer press conferences to break for discriminatory Islamic prayers that curse Jews and Christians. Then, they will change the soccer uniforms to conform to Islamic modesty requirements … then …
JUST SAY NO. Stop accommodating Islam now.
gravenimage says
Hear, hear, Mortimer!
Raja says
+1
gravenimage says
Damn good question, Chris.
Giacomo Latta says
UEFA is also in charge of women’s soccer in Europe. Will it ban all teams whose representatives dress as they currently do and insist on a dress code which permits no body exposure except a slit around the eyes – or worse?!
Crusades Were Right says
[Something about getting “woke” and financial consequences…]
lol
Golem2 says
No Beer or fun in Islam
mortimer says
Islam has NOTHING to do with fun or smiles or happiness.
Beer and soccer … soccer and beer. No beer … no soccer …
Bye-bye soccer. Hello discriminatory Sharia law.
Islam is serious. Whatever is serious is not fun.
Ecosse1314 says
Don’t think that ” French” guy needs to worry about beer bottles at press conferences after tonight’s result. His ” country ” lost.
Otis says
Is Paul Pogba a Muslim? Doesn’t he know that Muslims have enslaved millions of black people and still continues to do so to?
Giacomo Latta says
He no doubt considers himself a slave at the amount of money he’s making. While he is one of the most talented French players he is also beyond doubt the laziest. His team got what they deserved.
Eur says
He’s a great soccer player but he doesn’t look like he was the smartest in the class. He is a new convert to Islam due to the false association Christianity = white people Islam = people of color but above all because of religious communitarianism. The people he knows are mostly Muslim with a strong communitarianism, they pray together and that kind of thing to simple people, not very mature mentally and with the need to be accepted in a group … it attracts them.
gravenimage says
Eur, Paul Pogba both is and is not a new convert to Islam. His mother is Muslim but the children were not specifically raised in the faith.
Rob R (Brit stuck in Britainistan) says
So it’s only going to be when Muslim players request it (for now). Well at least that’s something.
How long until Muslim players demand all “LGBT” rainbow flags be removed, too?
James Lincoln says
Rob R,
Removing the LGBT rainbow flags might be a tipping point…
Rob R (Brit stuck in Britainistan) says
Yep.
In my opinion, having followed or observed sports a lot, there are already certain cases of athletes who are gay but they have been told not to come out.
I can think of two footballers and one race driver who I am convinced are gay but the billionaire money men have put them together with fake female lovers (or they have been just told not to come out) in order to not offend all the Arabs who put large amounts of money into these sports (or just watch them on TV).
James Lincoln says
Thanks for the info, Rob R.
Rob R (Brit stuck in Britainistan) says
“Nevertheless, in a competition already marked by political conflicts – anti-racism, LGBT activism, Russian-Ukrainian tensions, etc. – the European football body has reportedly decided to make an exception”
Well, in modern soccer, it’s inevitable there’s going to be a bunch of stupid “controversies”, because the die-hard fans need something to get excited over – today’s soccer games are usually not anything to get excited about! Very very dull sport played by millionaire dullards, and worshipped by tragic people.
Keith O says
I’ll bet these hypocrites don’t knock back the vast sums of money they receive from the brewing companies as part of their payments!
gravenimage says
European soccer association agrees to remove beer bottles from press conferences to avoid offending Muslims
………………
More cringing cowering to Muslims on the part of UEFA–even though Heineken paid for these rights. How much is this going to cost soccer?
Raja says
Assuming that he is really offended at beer bottles, he has no rights to propagate Islam through this medium. Islam followers love beer bottles just as much as non Muslims. We see the news reports of millions of alcohol bottles being crushed under rollers all the time in Islamic nations.
The West is inviting more trouble with Islam by looking the other way with this kind of high voltage stunts or theatrics.
Ray Jarman says
I don’t remember anyone complaining about a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints having to endure any alcoholic beverage at any celebration. Members of the Church don’t drink alcoholic beverage but they and other religions creeds don’t attempt to force their values upon others as Muslims. If a Muslim does not partake in certain actions, no one else should be forced to adhere to their beliefs as they don’t have to attend these events.
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
As someone with epilepsy, it would stand to reason that Muhammad outlawed alcohol because it is known in the medical community to bring on epileptic seizures. Overstimulation can also cause seizures which is probably why he outlawed music. It may not be that he was so much against having fun as a need to ban anything that brought on his epileptic attacks. His madness was a whole other issue.
rooare says
How about banning Islam bc it offends non-Muslims
ANNE JACKSON says
Whose country is it why should we change our culture and way of life for others They should be respecting us
Spiro says
Fat chance
They expect to be treated as
honored guest and it looks like the West can’t stop kissing their buts
So I guess the West will at some just give up the rest of the way
Jim says
Muslims probably do not change any of their practices to avoid offending Christians and Jews. I suppose that would be appeasing Islamophobes. Perhaps the Europeans and Americans should just say no. It is a little like saying, we will compromise on anti-rape laws. We will allow a little rape as a compromise with sharia laws, instead of banning all rape. If something is wrong under the laws of a country with a constitution and the rule of law, it should still be wrong even if Sharia says otherwise. Why give in. Do they ever seem to stop their demands when they get concessions. Like Hitler and his last territorial demand. Just give in one more time and then we will not make any more demands. Or like the just give us a mass amnesty, and then we will stop the illegal immigration under a comprehensive reform of immigration laws. When did the left ever keep promises like that.
simon murray says
The hypocrisy of this just staggers me. Is Pogba and UEFA aware that one of the main sponsors of the FIFA World Cup 2022 to be held in the Islamic country of Qatar is Anheuser Busch Bev, one of the biggest global players in the brewing industry and manafacturer of Budweiser! If Pogba is as devout and orthodox about his faith as he makes out ( and not the virtue signalling prig he really is) he must make a protest against the Qatar government for allowing an Islamic land, only 1.5 hours by plane away from Islam’s holiest city, to be corrupted by the brewery sinners! Better yet, refuse to play there,
spiro says
Good point
I have known a few Muslims over my many years and every one drank like a fish. and where party animals. Chasing skirts
Golem2 says
Pogba can’t be this stupid. It was a no alcohol beer. It’s about the perpetually offended hypocrites.