Austrian team members will have to look for
a new motivation when they face Poland in Group B, as Austria9s football chief
declined an offer of free beer for any scorer, the daily Kronen Zeitung
reported Thursday.
Vienna brewing company Ottakringer had promised free beer for life to any
player who scores a goal in the upcoming matches against Poland or Germany.
"We don't need such type of motivation. We need three points against Poland, but we definitely need no beer belly," said Alfred Ludwig, secretary general
of the Austrian Football Association.
But his decision also seems to have economic reasons.
Ludwig said the association might lose the credibility it enjoyed with its
sponsors if it accepted the offer. He was referring to the Stiegl brewery,
which supports Austrian football and distributes the official Euro 2008
Carlsberg brand, dpa reported.