Egypt goalkeeper El-Shenawy refuses award on religious grounds

Mohamed El-Shenawy refused the ‘player of the match’ trophy after an incredible display against Uruguay.

Mohamed Elshenawy during Egypt's World Cup game against Uruguay.

Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy refused the ‘player of the match’ trophy after an incredible display against Uruguay on Friday. Since the award, an artistic red goblet is sponsored by beer brand Budweiser, the 29-year-old couldn’t accept it on religious grounds as Islam prohibits consumption of alcohol.

Egypt lost 0-1 in the dying minutes, but El-Shenawy stood out protecting the net throughout the game.

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According to reports, he said a few words and posed for the media but didn’t take the goblet.

It seems FIFA has no policies for the Islamic countries participating in the World Cup as Budweiser remains one of the sponsors for the ‘player of the match’ award. They clearly didn’t anticipate such a case.

There are teams like Iran and Saudi Arabia in the competition. Egypt made a return after 1990.