Over 30% of the 73 FIFA World Cup player of the match awards so far have been made without Michelob Ultra beer branding, including ones to two prominent non-Muslim players, Kylian Mbappé and Virgil van Dijk.
These 22 players received an unbranded award in front of a backdrop saying Superior Player of the Match, rather than one emblazoned with the Michelob Ultra brand. It is likely that Mbappe and van Dijk cited Christian beliefs.
FIFA said it is to “respect religious considerations”, adding that the choice is also available to people who are under legal drinking age. There is no obvious route for players wanting to opt out of alcohol promotion for secular reasons.
Limiting freedoms to certain religious groups or belief systems is “an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter of the UN”, the UN says. ■