Rumors have been swirling around the Egypt camp that Mohamed Salah could quit international football after the World Cup. The Liverpool star, according to reports, has been unhappy with the way he’s been singled out surrounding a photo he took with the leader of the Chechen Republic. After the Mo Salah goal vs Saudi Arabia on Monday did not elicit any celebration from the Pharaohs’ star man, there may be some truth to the rumor.
The Salah rumors have been swirling for the last few days as Egypt was eliminated from the World Cup after two matches, making the final match a dead rubber.
The Pharaohs set up their base camp for the tournament in Chechnya and Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader, took full advantage of Salah being in town for some positive publicity with one of soccer's biggest stars. Kadyrov declared Salah an honorary citizen of Chechnya to promote his regime.
The problem is, Kadyrov has been accused of running a discriminating government, with abuses against political dissidents, women and sexual minorities. Kadyrov denies these accusations.
Mo Salah has proudly accepted honourary citizenship of Chechnya, a country which tortures and murders its own citizens who are suspected of being gay. This man is a disgrace to his profession and a disgrace to Liverpool football club. pic.twitter.com/7WBLaa7uDL
— Benjamin Butterworth (@benjaminbutter) June 23, 2018
While the Egyptian FA has denied the rumors, some have reported Salah will quit international football following the World Cup due to the scrutiny placed on him for appearing with Kadyrov.
But that didn’t prevent the Mo Salah goal vs Saudi Arabia, to put Egypt up 1-0 in the first half.
#MundialTelemundo Así lo narró @ErasmoProvenza : ¡Qué hermoso gol definió @MoSalah! Le gana el balón al defensor de #KSA y ya adelanta a su #EGY en el marcador pic.twitter.com/10mQA6fbdD
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 25, 2018
But you’ll notice Salah didn’t run around in celebration, or really do anything in celebration. He just stopped running and let his teammates come to him to receive high-fives and hugs.
Is this a sign Salah is done with Egyptian football? Was the Mo Salah goal vs Saudi Arabia his final contribution to the Pharaohs?
At this point, who can tell. Lionel Messi once quit international football, but he’s back failing with Argentina at the 2018 World Cup.
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