World Cup 2018: Mohamed Salah considering Egypt future over political controversy with Chechnya leader
Mohamed Salah is considering retiring from international football after the fallout over a picture of himself and Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov taken just before the World Cup.
The Liverpool forward, who was recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in the Champions League final at the time, was with Kadyrov while at Egypt’s World Cup base in Grozny.
Salah has since been made an “honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic” according to Kadyrov, who tweeted it in a ceremony with the player.
“Mohamed Salah is an honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic! That's right!” Kadyrov wrote. “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.”
However, The Independent has been told that Salah believes he has been used politically and is considering ending his affiliation with the Egyptian national team as a result.
The controversy around the pictures is due to Kadyrov, who has led Chechnya since 2004, and his divisive rule over his people, as well as his comments on those in same-sex relationships.
Salah’s relationship with the Egyptian FA was already strained before the World Cup after he won a battle with them over the use of his image rights in April.
He was upset his image was featured so prominently on the plane taking Egypt to Russia, which was provided by official team sponsor WE despite Salah having a sponsorship deal with rival telecommunications company Vodafone.
“Sorry but this is a major insult ... I was hoping the handling [of the dispute] would be classier than this,” Salah had written on social media.
While Salah has not formally called time on his international career, he will consider his options over the coming weeks, with Egypt already knocked out of the World Cup following two defeats.
