Franck Ribery has experienced a controversial moment about beer. There are at least two moments that could be horrendous.
First in 2013 he was said to be angry with his teammate at Bayern Munich at the time, Jerome Boateng, who poured beer on him in the field. At that time Die Roten was celebrating the German Bundesliga champions.
In the video footage, Ribery had run from the pursuit of teammates who tried to flush it with a large glass of beer. Ribery was finally ‘caught’ full of beer while on his stomach in the field.
Boateng first flushed him with beer, then another teammate. Suddenly the incident caused a stir in the media, especially from the UK such as the Daily Mail and Metro.
The news was made so excited because the identity of the French player as a Muslim. Moreover, Ribery is known as a footballer who has a strong principle of forbidding beer.
Ribery is known as a Muslim who tries to obey by keeping the forbidden ones like beer and other alcoholic drinks. Ribery is also trying to fast, pay alms and offer five daily prayers.
In reporting the Daily Mail, Ribery claimed to be angry especially by the act of Boateng. Ribery called had time to ask teammates to keep the beer away from him.
On social media too, there were photos of Ribery being hit by beer. Some fans even said the player was furious.
“I don’t want to talk to Boateng anymore. He knows that I am Muslim. I am very upset,” the quote as if from Ribery adorned the uploaded photo that was spread on social media at the time.
However, Boateng hastily clarified through social media accounts. The former Manchester City player claims the relationship with Ribery is still very good and denies that the news of his colleague is outraged by being doused with beer.
“My brother and I, Ribery, are all fine. It is a non-alcoholic beer [sprinkled with Ribery],” Boateng chirped in his Twitter account.
Media from the UK also called the public and the German media is too excessive and just want to find the sensation of reporting the ‘incident’ Ribery and a splash of beer.
However, there are also a number of people who doubt Boateng’s statement that beer is non-alcoholic.
Another netizen even uploaded a photo that he had high-fived a beer with his team-mates in Munich.
Even so the story of Ribery and beer re-stirred in 2014. Call it on several occasions during the Oktoberfest photo session which is also celebrated Munich.
Oktoberfest is actually a harvest party for traditional German society. All Germans took to the streets to drink beer, even watering it as part of the celebration.
No exception Munich squad also celebrated in the 2014 season. Moreover, one of the beer companies in the country also became a sponsor of the Bavarian club.
One people uploaded a photo session of the Munich squad promoting their sponsors while celebrating the October Fest. But in the photo it appears some Muslim players such as Ribery, Medhi Benatia, and Xherdan Shaqiri do not hold a glass of beer.
Similarly, in the team photo session during the 2018 Oktoberfest celebration, Ribery also did not lift a large glass of beer. British media such as the Daily Mail, again preached the moment.
“The Dutchman, Arjen Robben, high-fills [beer] with Sven Ulrich. While his team mate, Muller, really likes seeing the beer.”
“However, Franck Ribery who is a convert to pose without a glass of beer for religious reasons. David Alaba looks rather uncomfortable with his colleagues, but trying to maintain style with a smile,” writes the Daily Mail.
Ribery is known by his teammates as devout Muslims. He tried to carry out the teachings of Islam with full sincerity.
The attacker who is now grazing with Fiorentina is not a Muslim on the basis of descent. He was called a convert in 2002 while still playing for the French League’s second caste club, Ales. After becoming a convert, Ribery has the Muslim name Bilal Yusuf Mohamed.
It was her idol since her teens, Wahiba Belhami, who introduced Ribery to Islam. The French woman of Algerian descent officially became Ribery’s wife in 2006.
Now the two couples have been blessed with two sons, Seif el Islam and Mohammed, and two daughters Hiziya and Shahinez.
Ribery once stated that religion is a personal relationship between himself and God. The former Gatalasaray and Marseille player wants to find peace by becoming a Muslim.
“I am a religious person and since embracing Islam, I feel that I have become stronger mentally and physically. Religion has not changed my personality or perception of the world.”
“I pray five times a day. I do it because it makes me calmer and better,” Ribery was quoted as saying by SportsZion.
