Muslim players will no longer be required to display bottles of alcohol-associated brands during news conferences, following Paul Pogba’s snub

The decision comes after France international and Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, a Muslim, removed a bottle of Heineken 0.0 beer from a collection of drinks placed in front of the microphone by sponsors.

Officials at the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) are now asking teams whether players and managers appearing at press conferences would object to sitting next to alcoholic brand names on religious grounds, Telegraph Sport reported.

The change was noticed when team-mate Karim Benzema, who is also a Muslim, appeared at a later news conference at which the Heineken sponsor’s product was not in sight.

Heineken objected to the decision, saying its 0.0 product has no alcohol in it, and should not be an issue with those who abstain.

“Far from promoting the consumption of alcohol, Heineken 0.0 is helping consumers decrease their alcohol intake, allowing them to substitute for great tasting alcohol-free beer when it suits them, giving our consumers greater choice,” Heineken said of Pogba’s protest.