Liverpool and Egypt superstar Mo Salah may be done with his national side once this World Cup concludes.
CNN first reported that Salah is contemplating quitting the Egyptian National Team because he feels that he’s been treated like a political pawn in Chechnya; site of the Pharaohs World Cup training base.
Mo Salah feels he’s been drawn into a global geopolitical row, and it stems from when the leader of the Chechen Republic, the extremely controversial Ramzan Kadyrov, had the following to say via social media about the Premier League Player of the Year:
“Mohamed Salah is an honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic! That’s right! I gave Mohamed Salah a copy of the order and a pin at a celebratory dinner that I gave in honour of the Egyptian team.”
Before the tournament began, Salah received an intense amount of backlash for being pictured smiling alongside Kadyrov, a leader branded by many as a tyrant due to his records of human rights abuses and public stances that are prejudicial and offensive to numerous groups of people.
For more about Kadyrov, you should watch this video by Late night talk show host (and die-hard Liverpool supporter) John Oliver:
The CNN report states that: “Salah feels exposed by what has happened in Chechnya. The Liverpool star doesn’t wish to engage in topics beyond football or to be used for anyone’s political image.”
Due to an injury inflicted by Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos in the UEFA Champions League Final, Salah was not fit to play in Egypt’s World Cup opener, a loss to Uruguay. He did play, and score, in the second match, a loss to hosts Russia. Unfortunately, tomorrow’s match against Saudi Arabia will be Egypt’s final appearance in this tournament, as they have now been eliminated.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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