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Tuesday, 28 August 2018

'I did not ask for special treatment' - Salah hits back at Egypt FA

Relations between player and country continue to deteriorate following a disastrous World Cup campaign in Russia
Egypt star Mohamed Salah has hit back at his nation's FA, accusing the federation of neglecting player safety and comfort at the World Cup. 
Salah bounced back from a dislocated shoulder to hit two goals for Egypt in Russia, although those strikes did little for the Pharoahs' overall fortunes. 


The team coached by Hector Cuper were eliminated in the group stage following three straight defeats, while Salah was targeted for accepting honorary Chechen citizenship during Egypt's stay in the region. 
Relations between Salah and his national team have been strained since the World Cup, and on Sunday he took to Twitter to unmask a series of "problems" 
Egypt's FA responded by threatening legal action against the player's agent if he persists in "entering into conflicts that harm the interests of one of the best and most valuable Egyptian football players".
But on Monday the Liverpool star insisted that he does not want special treatment or privileges, and is merely looking out for the entire Egypt squad.
“I did not ask for a special treatment from the EFA, I do not see myself as above any of my team mates in order to do so, and when I speak about the problems we had in Russia I’d like to speak for my team mates but I’m not entitled to do so, there are more important and older players than me there," he said in a video released on Facebook.
“I’m not speaking to cause problems; all I want is to tell my side of the story as the EFA did. First of all I did not like how they distorted the main problem.
“When I ask for something I do it for everyone in the team, last time we went to the national team I slept at 6am and could not go to the restaurant for breakfast or lunch because of all the people that were there.
“We need guards with the team while travelling, we have asked for that in a letter for the EFA but they never responded. 
“Also they said that nobody knocked my room door at 4am to take pictures with me, anyone is free to ask the hotel or the players”.
In a second video, Salah emphasised that  “I did not ask for privileges, that’s how it works everywhere around the globe, we are in 2018 and EFA still uses old methods and ways.
“I know that we have the ability to offer those things, for every player in the national team, not only for me. I think it’s reasonable to ask not to be disrupted by anyone during my own time in the hotel room.
“What I’m asking for is to be able to discuss those things with the EFA, they do not even respond”.
“They make us travel in economy class, which is exhausting for every player; all the other African teams fly in business class”.
“Again, I dare any one to republish anything that I said about personal privileges, and again I’m sorry for all my teammates. I’m not the captain but someone had to speak out, that’s all, and I’m ready to take responsibly for those words."
Salah has played a total of 59 games for Egypt, scoring 35 goals.

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