FIFA modifies player of the match award for Muslim players at World Cup

FIFA has introduced a significant modification to the way the Player of the Match award is presented during the ongoing World Cup. The international football governing body has decided to remove the sponsor's logo from the Man of the Match trophy for Muslim players, footballers under the legal drinking age, or any players who do not wish to associate their names with an alcohol brand.

According to a report by Brazilian media outlet 'O Globo', the "Superior Player of the Match" award at the World Cup is sponsored by beer brand Michelob Ultra. However, for certain players, this sponsor's logo is being excluded from the trophy and the official photographs. Instead, it only displays "The Superior Player of the Match" alongside the World Cup's own logo.

The matter first came to light after Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari, who won the Player of the Match award after scoring the fastest goal of the tournament in a match against Scotland, received a logo-free trophy. Following this, it was revealed that similar logo-free trophies were awarded to Egypt's Imam Ashour, Jordan's Ali Olwan, Iran's Ramin Rezaeian, Qatar's goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada, Ivory Coast's Yann Diomandé, Canada's Ismaël Koné, and Switzerland's Yoan Manyambi.

'O Globo's' report stated that religious and cultural sensitivities are behind this decision. The media outlet mentioned that since alcohol consumption is prohibited in Islam, this arrangement was made to respect the beliefs of Muslim players. A FIFA spokesperson told 'SportBible', "Upon request by the selected player, there is an option to use a logo-free award and backdrop."

Not only Muslim players, but any player regardless of religion or race can take advantage of this option if they do not want to associate themselves with an alcohol brand. FIFA followed the same policy during last year's Club World Cup. In that tournament, PSG's Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi and footballer Estêvão—who played for Palmeiras at the time and is now with Chelsea—both received brand-free trophies. In Hakimi's case, it was due to his religious identity, while for Estêvão, the reason was his age, as he was a minor at the time.

Controversy surrounding alcohol sponsorship is not new. It sparked widespread discussion during the 2018 World Cup when Egypt's goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy refused to accept the traditional Player of the Match award due to religious reasons.