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VOLGOGRAD, Russia – Mohamed Salah told the Egyptian team and his teammates that he was planning to retire internationally because he was angry after being used as a political symbol while the team of the World Cup was based in Chechnya.
Salah – the most popular football player in the Muslim world today – said that he was particularly irritated by a team banquet organized by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who used the dinner for grant Salah the "honorary citizenship", according to both people. Both spoke of the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
Egyptian Football Federation spokesman Osama Ismail said Salah did not complain to the federation. "We should only rely on what Salah writes on his Twitter account."
Chechnya, a predominantly Muslim region in southern Russia, has been devastated by wars between separatists and Russian forces. Kadyrov, a former rebel who has transferred his loyalty to Moscow, is accused of gross human rights violations, including kidnappings and killings.
Salah, who also took part in a photo shoot with Kadyrov, was criticized by the British media for allowing the Chechen leader to use it to improve the government's international image.
Salah had not publicly responded to criticism while the team was based in Grozny, the Chechen capital. Salah's meetings with Kadyrov have the potential to undermine his popularity in Europe, where he has been somewhat of a moderate Islam ambassador.
The news of Salah's disapproval of Kadyrov's actions dissipated just after the Egyptian team left Grozny. The team is now in Volgograd for Monday's match against Saudi Arabia which, like Egypt, has also been eliminated.
Salah will now return his attention to his club game. Last season, Salah led Liverpool to the Champions League final and was named Premier League player after scoring 44 goals in all competitions.
If Salah were to leave the Pharaohs, it would be a great embarrassment for the federation and the government, who decided to found the team in Grozny. A population that sees Salah as a hero would probably be furious, with the blame for a government facing growing popular discontent over its decision to raise the price of fuel, clean water and water. electricity.
Egyptian coach Hector Cuper was suspicious when asked Sunday whether Kadyrov was using Salah to make political gains. He said that FIFA ranked Grozny among the cities that could be used as a training base for the World Cup.
Human Rights Watch and other groups tried unsuccessfully to persuade FIFA to remove Grozny from the list of possible team bases.
The Friday evening banquet was held at Kadyrov's presidential palace in Grozny, and the Chechen leader posed with Salah for photos while pinning a medal on his chest.
"It's a deserved honor," Kadyrov wrote on Russian social networks, adding that Salah's presence had sparked "unprecedented interest in football". Kadyrov said that he wanted Egypt to return to Chechnya after the World Cup for a friendly match against local club Akhmat Grozny, which bears the name of Kadyrov's murdered father.
A video clip of the ceremony showed Kadyrov sitting at a table flanked by Salah and Hany Abo Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Federation. Dancers and singers performed for Kadyrov and his guests, with Salah both grimacing.
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