Pro-Palestine advocates have joined football fans across the world in commending Portuguese football national team captain, Cristiano Ronaldo for removing two bottles of Coca-Cola kept in front of him at Monday’s Euro 2020 press conference.
The 36-year-old moved the cola bottles aside as he sat down to speak to the media before Tuesday’s Group F opener against Hungary.
Ronaldo, who plays for Juventus in the Italian Serie A, followed it by holding a bottle of water before shouting in Portuguese: ‘Agua’, meaning water, thereby urging fans to drink water instead.
His action has attracted reactions from football governing bodies, and fans across the world, including pro-Palestinians, who have been advocating for the boycott of Coca-Cola and other companies benefitting from the Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.
Muslim News findings revealed that Ronaldo might not have discarded Coca-Cola bottles in support of BDS Movement, but lovers of Palestinians can’t but applaud his action, which has inflicted an estimated $4-billion dip in the value of the company.
Ronaldo is a well known human rights activist, who has on several occasions advocated for the rights oof Palestinians. In 2016, the former Real Madrid star met a Palestinian boy, Ahmed Dawabsha, whose family was killed by Israeli goons in a fire bomb.
Here are some of the reactions by fans on social media…
He is a genius, a humble man with a great sense of fairness and justice, a passionate supporter of the Palestinian Arabs and Christians. Humanity will regard him as an honourable man (who) cares about the suffering of the oppressed people. May the all mighty Allah keep you safe and in good health and continue to support Palestinians because one (day) we will see a free Palestine for all living in peace. – Muslim Joghee
It needs a great moral courage, audacity and strong personal conviction to stand up for the children of Palestine, Syria and against the multinational merchant mafia at his table, Salute Ronaldo !!! – Farouq Tareen
The work that Ronaldo has done is a very great one, he has boycotted Israeli products,The love for Palestinian🇪🇭 children has shown in an outward manifestation, Let’s play😍 – Ashraful
Now this man deserves to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his charitable works and speaking out for human rights, especially for those in Palestine and Syria. I applaud you, Ronaldo👏. An example of brilliance, both professionally and personally. Let’s hope more celebrities can also speak up about injustices and human rights. Together, they can change a small part of the world. – Rose Choudhury
Love and respect for you from India-occupied Kashmir. Arab countries should learn from him and we Muslims of the world should boycott Israeli products and companies support like Coca-Cola supporting them. – Mir Jehangir
