Russia 2018, Egypt holds its breath as world debut of soccer star Salah at risk
Spanish player who fouled him subject to insults and threats. Today, Salah is national symbol and is trying to reassure fans: I will make you "proud". An Egyptian lawyer ready to sue a billion-dollar lawsuit. A petition has collected 500,000 signatures. Imam of Kuwait: divine punishment for violating Ramadan.
Cairo (AsiaNews) - A nation is waiting with bated breath to learn of the fate of the country's most important soccer player less than two weeks before the start of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, scheduled from June 14 to July 15. Mohamed Salah, a devoted Muslim, is the ace in the national team that for the first time in the last 28 years has managed to qualify for the final stage, where he will meet the Russian hosts, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
His goal on the final day of qualifying, on a penalty kick, proved decisive to pull off the ticket to Moscow. However, an injury suffered during the Champions League final in Kiev on May 26 last is likely to challenge his presence.
Salah, 25, is one of the most popular footballers of the moment, the symbol of the season on the European scene and, according to some experts, capable of challenging the Leo Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly that has dominated the football scene for almost a decade. The Champions League final was his first big showcase.
The final for the Egyptian footballer lasted just under half an hour: at the 25th minute of the first half the injury following a clash with a Real Madrid defender. And five minutes later his substitution, amid tears of suffering and disappointment.
In the days following the incident, a protest campaign of against the author of foul, the Spaniard Sergio Ramos, began on the net and social networks, Ramos is accused of having deliberately provoked the shoulder injury. On his Facebook page thousands of Internet users have vented their anger, with personal attacks, insults and threats. Ramos has glossed over insults and sent greetings to his colleague: "Come back soon, the future awaits you". Salah said that in Russia there will be and will make the Egyptians "proud".
Meanwhile, an Egyptian lawyer said he wanted to bring a case against Ramos. The lawyer Bassem Wahba would have filed a complaint with FIFA, the world football governing body, demanding one billion euros compensation "for physical and psychological damage". And a petition launched on change.org to punish the Spanish defender got over 500,000 signatures.
The doctor of the Egyptian national team reports that the injury "will not go beyond" the three weeks. The leaders of the Egyptian Football Federation show (cautious) optimism. And the country of the pharaohs continues to hope, and pray for a speedy recovery as confirmed to AsiaNews by. Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church, who, like all Egyptians, follows the story despite not being interested in football. "[Salah] is the man who will have to lead the team to the world championships - he says - and football is one of the most important and followed sports". "He has become over time the best publicity for Egypt in the world" beyond jihadist violence, tensions and internal conflicts. "His humility and determination - he concludes - have made him a true icon and a source of national pride".
The voice of an imam from Kuwait is in strident contrast. According to Islamic preacher Mubarak al-Bathali the player incurred divine wrath for not respecting Ramadan, Islamic fasting. "Eating and drinking - he said - for a football game is not a legitimate excuse". The imam adds, however, that Salah "is a virtuous, good and respected man" and is "improving" the image of Muslims in the West. "He must not be sad - he concludes - the door to repentance is open".
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13/06/2006
