Trending, Andriy Yarmolenko's Turn To Throw A Bottle Of Coca Cola And Heineken While Smiling

Andriy Yarmolenko (Instagram @yarmolenkoandrey)

JAKARTA - Ukraine national team captain Andriy Yarmolenko became the latest Euro 2020 player to get rid of the bottle of the European tournament sponsor's drink at a post-match press conference on Thursday local time. This action became a trend so as to create humor on social media and conversely confuse the tournament organizing committee.

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to kickstart the trend by removing Coca-Cola bottles and replacing them with mineral water bottles when he sat down to answer media questions last Monday.

After the player's refusal was widely disseminated and seen by millions of people around the world, the share price of the beverage company which is also a sponsor of Euro 2020 fell 1.6 percent or lost about 4 billion US dollars (Rp57 trillion).

Yarmolenko, who had just led Ukraine to a 2-1 win over North Macedonia, took advantage of the press conference opportunity to further damage the image of the Euro 2020 sponsor.

"Can I do something? I saw Ronaldo do this," he said, grinning. "I want to move this (Coke bottle) here and I want to move this beer here. Coke and Heineken, please come close."

“Coca-Cola and Heineken… please contact me!”

Andriy Yarmolenko saw what Cristiano Ronaldo did and reversed it 😂🔄 pic.twitter.com/koH8o8TCx9

— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) June 17, 2021

The 31-year-old then laughed before returning the bottles to their original places in front of him.

French midfielder Paul Pogba, who is Muslim, removed Heineken bottles at a press conference Tuesday, while Italian midfielder Manuel Locatelli also removed Coca-Cola bottles on Wednesday by replacing them with mineral water bottles.

European football's governing body UEFA takes these players' body language seriously by reminding that the teams they play for are under contractual responsibilities to tournament sponsors.

Coca-Cola did not comment on Yarmolenko's actions even after the Ronaldo incident the company pointed to a UEFA statement underlining that the company also produces mineral water, isotonic sports drinks, juices, coffee, and tea.

Heineken also declined to comment.