Mo Salah considering quitting Egypt national team
(CNN)Mo Salah is considering quitting the Egyptian national team due to his unhappiness over what has happened in Chechnya, where the team was based during the World Cup at Russia 2018, a source close to the Liverpool forward has told CNN.
Last season Salah became an international star — ranked alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. — due to his goalscoring feats for Liverpool, who he helped reach the Champions League final.
Salah was injured in that game against Real Madrid and subsequently missed Egypt's opening World Cup match against Uruguay, though he played and scored in the 3-1 defeat by hosts Russia.
But as he struggled for fitness a picture of Salah walking beside Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov became a major talking point at the World Cup.
Salah scored a penalty in Egypt's 3-1 World Cup defeat by Russia.
Kadyrov, leader of Chechnya since 2004, has stifled any form of dissent, subduing the separatist movement that fought the Russian army for nearly two decades.
Subsequently Kadyrov made Salah an honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic.
"Mohamed Salah is an honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic! That's right!" the Chechen leader wrote in a social media post. "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."
A Russian state-funded news agency RT video shows Salah smiling as Kadyrov gives his speech and pins a badge bearing the Chechen flag to the Egyptian international's shirt.
Salah feels exposed by what has happened in Chechnya, the source told CNN. The Liverpool star doesn't wish to engage in topics beyond football or to be used for anyone's political image.
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In an email sent to CNN, the Egyptian Football Federation said it was surprised that Salah was ready to "quit the national team" and that the 26-year-old hadn't informed them of that intention.
"We were always informed by Salah when he takes any decisions," said the statement.
"We spend the whole day together and he has never discussed this issue with any of the delegation's members.
"We are here in a sports event and we are following FIFA procedures, we don't discuss politics, and if there is any political discussion, it should be directed to FIFA."
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Egyptian star Mohamed Salah kisses the ball before scoring a penalty on Tuesday, June 19. Russia won, however, by a final score of 3-1.
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Egypt's Tarek Hamed, left, and Russia's Aleksandr Golovin compete for the ball.
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Russia's first goal came when the ball deflected off Egypt's Ahmed Fathi.
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Members of the Senegal team celebrate after defeating Poland 2-1 in their match on Tuesday, June 19.
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Japanese defender Gen Shoji climbs over Colombia's Radamel Falcao to win a header in their World Cup opener on Tuesday. Japan won the match 2-1.
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The referee shows a red card to Colombia's Carlos Sanchez in the third minute. Sanchez was deemed to have deliberately handled the ball in the box.
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English players celebrate Harry Kane's first goal in the 2-1 win over Tunisia on Monday, June 18. Kane later added the winner in second-half stoppage time.
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A Tunisia fan shows his dejection after the final whistle.
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Belgium's Dries Mertens, right, competes for the ball with Panama's Jose Luis Rodriguez during their World Cup opener Monday. Mertens scored a goal in Belgium's 3-0 victory.
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Panamanian forward Gabriel Torres controls the ball during the match against Belgium.
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Sweden's Pontus Jansson, top left, and South Korea's Ki Sung-yueng try to head the ball during Sweden's 1-0 victory on Monday.
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Switzerland's Steven Zuber celebrates after scoring a goal against Brazil on Sunday, June 17. The two teams tied 1-1.
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Brazil's Philippe Coutinho and Switzerland's Breel Embolo compete for the ball.
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Brazilian star Neymar recently came back from a foot injury.
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Mexico's Hirving Lozano, left, celebrates with Jesus Gallardo after scoring the only goal in the upset victory over Germany on June 17. Germany won the World Cup in 2014.
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Fans wave German flags before facing off with Mexico.
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Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa makes a late save against Mario Gomez.
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Marcos Ureña runs onto the pitch during Costa Rica's opening match against Serbia on June 17. Serbia won 1-0.
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Croatian players celebrate after Luka Modric scored the second goal of their 2-0 win against Nigeria on Saturday, June 16.
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Nigerian captain John Obi Mikel runs with the ball during the Croatia match.
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Denmark's Yussuf Poulsen reacts after he scored a goal against Peru on June 16. It turned out to be the only goal in the match.
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Peru's Luis Advincula, left, and Denmark's Martin Braithwaite fight for the ball.
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Argentina star Lionel Messi appears downcast at the end of a 1-1 draw with Iceland on June 16. Messi missed a penalty in the match.
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Messi and Iceland's Hordur Magnusson struggle for the ball.
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Fans of France share a kiss before the team's opening match with Australia on June 16.
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French midfielder Paul Pogba keeps his eye on the ball against Australia. His shot deflected off an Australian for the match-winning goal.
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Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his first-half penalty against Spain on Friday, June 15. He added two more goals in the 3-3 draw.
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Spanish defender Nacho, left, competes for a header with Portugal's Bruno Fernandes. Nacho conceded the early penalty to Ronaldo but responded with a second-half goal.
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Fernando Hierro was making his debut as Spain's manager. The former captain took over two days ago when Spain fired Julen Lopetegui.
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Portuguese defender Raphael Guerreiro controls the ball in the match against Spain.
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Morocco's Aziz Bouhaddouz lies on the ground after heading the ball into his own net late in stoppage time on June 15. The whistle was blown just a few moments later, and Iran won 1-0.
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Iran's Alireza Jahanbakhsh grimaces in pain in front of Morocco's Romain Saiss.
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Uruguay's Luis Suarez, left, and Egypt's Sam Morsy battle for the ball on June 15. Uruguay won 1-0.
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Fans watch the Egypt-Uruguay match from temporary seats set up at the Ekaterinburg Arena. The seats had to be installed to meet FIFA's minimum-seating requirement.
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Egyptian midfielder Abdallah Said heads the ball during the match against Uruguay.
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Fedor Smolov fights off two Saudi defenders during the tournament opener, which Russia won 3-0 on Thursday, June 14. Russia and Saudi Arabia came into the match as the lowest-ranked teams in the tournament.
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Fans watching from Yekaterinburg, Russia, celebrate Russia's first goal.
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The ball flies past Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf for Russia's fourth goal.
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A fan wears body paint in Russia's colors before the opening match.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the crowd before kickoff at the Luzhniki Stadium.
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Performers take part in the tournament's opening ceremony.
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British pop star Robbie Williams headlined the opening ceremony.
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Russian soprano Aida Garifullina sings during the opening ceremony.
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Colombian forward Falcao celebrates after scoring during his country's match against Poland. Colombia won, 3-0.
