The name Mohamed Salah is well known to football fans around the world. His high level of play and performances for the Liverpool club have made him one of the main stars of world football in recent years. However, behind Salah's sensational goals and dizzying dribbling, rare moments sometimes go unnoticed when this player is involved in various conflicts and scandals.
In this article, we will look at several episodes in Mohamed Salah's career, analyze their causes and consequences, and also try to understand why such an exceptional player sometimes finds himself at the center of sporting scandals.
One of the most famous episodes associated with Salah's involvement in the conflict was his clash with Tottenham defender Serge Aurier during an English Premier League match in November 2021. In the 69th minute of the match between Liverpool and Tottenham, there was a collision between Salah and Aurier, as a result of which both players received yellow cards.
According to eyewitnesses, the conflict between the players began even before this episode. Salah and Aurier exchanged several sharp remarks, after which there was a physical confrontation. The cameras recorded how Salah tried to push Aurier away, and then even grabbed his opponent by the throat. In response, Aurier hit Salah in the head with his elbow.
The match referee decided to punish both players for rough play and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Salah and Aurier were given yellow cards, but this did not prevent Liverpool from eventually winning 2-1.
This incident caused a stir in the football world. Many experts and fans condemned Salah's behavior, considering it inappropriate for a player of such a high level. At the same time, some experts also criticized Aurier's actions, which they believe caused the conflict.
In a post-match interview, Salah attempted to explain his actions, claiming that Aurier was the first to use force by pushing him. The Egyptian also stressed that he would never intentionally commit such crude techniques.
On the other hand, Aurier also spoke about what happened, pointing out that Salah played too rudely and unsportsmanlike. According to the Tottenham defender, he reacted to his opponent's provocation.
As a result, despite the violent media reaction, the incident between Salah and Aurier did not evolve further. Both players served their sentences in the form of warnings and continued to play for their clubs.
Another rare instance of conflict for Salah was his incident with Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane. This happened in September 2019 during a match against Burnley.
In the 72nd minute of the match, Salah failed to pass the ball to Mane, who was best placed to complete the attack. The Senegalese, angry with his partner, responded by ignoring him at the next opportunity to pass the ball. The cameras caught Mane turning away from Salah and looking in the other direction.
After the match, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was forced to comment on the episode. He admitted that there was a conflict between the players, but stressed that such situations happen in football, especially in a team where there is a spirit of healthy competition. According to Klopp, he spoke with both players and resolved the differences.
Mane himself also publicly admitted that he was excited and apologized to his partner. Salah, in turn, said that he did not see anything extraordinary in what happened and stressed that he has an excellent relationship with Mane.
Despite the emotional nature of the incident, it has not resonated widely outside the football community. Most pundits and fans see it as a typical labor dispute that occurs between teammates during a tense match.
Overall, Salah and Mane continued to demonstrate a high level of chemistry on the pitch, helping Liverpool win the league title in 2019/20.
Another reason to draw attention to the person of Mohamed Salah was an incident that occurred in 2018 after a match with the Egyptian national team. Then, the footballer refused to sign autographs with the fans, citing fatigue.
The episode angered many fans who felt that Salah, who is Egypt's national hero, should be more accessible to his fans. A heated discussion ensued on social media, with some condemning Salah for his behavior, while others, on the contrary, supported him.
The footballer himself later apologized for his actions. He explained that after a difficult match, he simply needed rest and recovery and that he did not want to give the impression that he was neglecting his fans. Salah stressed that he always strives to be as open and friendly as possible towards his fans.
This episode is a rare instance where Salah has found himself at the center of a scandal related to his behavior off the football pitch. However, despite the criticism, the vast majority of the footballer's fans have been supportive of his explanations and have continued to give him their full support.
Perhaps the most notorious scandal involving Mohamed Salah was his clash with Sergio Ramos during the 2018 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
In the middle of the first half, Ramos played hard against Salah, as a result of which the Egyptian striker suffered shoulder injuries and was forced to leave the field. Liverpool eventually lost the match 1-3 and Salah missed Egypt's next matches in the World Cup.
The incident caused a huge resonance in the football world and beyond. Many fans and pundits accused Ramos of deliberately injuring Salah, calling his actions dirty and undignified. Some even called for the Spanish defender to be disqualified.
Salah himself, in an interview after the match, said that Ramos had deliberately hurt him in order to remove him from the match. The Egyptian expressed his deep disappointment with what happened, as his injury deprived him of the opportunity to help the national team at the World Cup.
In turn, Ramos denied all accusations, claiming that he had not committed any malicious act. The Real Madrid defender insisted that he had no intention of hurting Salah and that he was simply trying to play the ball. In addition, Ramos apologized to the Egyptian striker for the damage caused.
Despite mutual accusations, UEFA found no reason to punish Ramos. The organization considered that the episode was accidental and did not contain any signs of intentional misconduct.
However, the conflict between Salah and Ramos continued to be actively discussed in the media for a long time. Many Liverpool fans still have not forgiven the Spanish defender for his actions, which, in their opinion, deprived their beloved team of a chance to win the Champions League.
After analyzing several notable episodes in which Mohamed Salah was involved in various conflicts and scandals, a number of conclusions can be drawn.
First of all, it is worth noting that such situations are extremely rare in the career of this footballer. Salah usually avoids abrupt games and unsportsmanlike behavior, focusing on demonstrating the highest individual skills. Most of his clashes with rivals were provoked by the actions of his opponents, and not by the Egyptian himself.
Second, even when he finds himself at the center of a scandal, Salah tries to adopt a restrained and conciliatory stance. He usually explains his actions, apologizes, and strives to reach a quick resolution to the conflict. This behavior has rightly earned him the respect of fans and pundits alike.
Thirdly, it should be noted that the public's reaction to conflicts involving Salah is often emotional and ambiguous. Some condemn the footballer for any manifestation of aggression or disrespect towards his partners and rivals, while others, on the contrary, justify it by highlighting the provocations of opponents. However, the majority is still inclined to believe that Salah is an example of professionalism and courtesy in football.
In general, we can say that Mohamed Salah is not the "hero" of sports scandals. His extremely rare conflicts only emphasize that even such outstanding footballers are not immune to emotional outbursts and conflicts of interest on the field. However, thanks to his correct behavior and ability to find compromises, Salah almost always gets out of such situations with minimal losses, thus preserving his reputation as one of the most worthy and respected players of our time.
