English FA Replaces Champagne with Alcohol-Free Alternative for Cup Celebrations

According to the Daily Mail, the English football body had the tradition of placing bottles of champagne in the players’ locker rooms during the Football Association Challenge Cup finals, in order to be able to saber them as a sign of victory.

This tradition is no longer to the liking of the officials of the English federation, who have chosen to replace it with non-alcoholic champagne, out of respect for Muslim players and those who have not yet reached the age of majority.

The decision is an initiative of the federation and does not come from player complaints, according to the newspaper. Moreover, its implementation was strongly dependent on the agreement of the sponsors.

"From this year’s Emirates Cup final, all winners of the various English league competitions will be awarded bottles of non-alcoholic champagne," said a federation spokesman, before adding: "We want to demonstrate our interest in players and communities whose religion prohibits alcohol as well as those who have not reached the age of majority."