Mohamed Salah’s assertion this week that no Arab or African footballer has ever attained his status and his criticism of the work ethics of fellow Egyptians have kicked a storm back home among his usually adoring fans, with some accusing the Liverpool striker of arrogance and ingratitude.
Tweeting in Arabic late on Tuesday, the 26-year-old player expressed both remorse and indignation.
“I am astonished by ‘some’ people who are waiting on the wings for any mistake or comments so they can interpret them the way that suits them … It’s clear that this has both become the norm and a clear attempt to find fault with well-meaning comments and honest mistakes.”
Addressing a news conference in Liverpool on Monday, Salah contemptuously dismissed criticism of his form by fans on social media networks, saying what was being said there no longer impacted him. He acknowledged that the high expectations of him are a source of pressure since he is “the first Arab or African to reach this status and I influence a large number of people".
Abandoning his hallmark caution when speaking in public, he berated fellow Egyptians for what he described as their know-it-all attitude, alluding to social media evaluations of his form. “I have no time to pick up the phone and get on social media to see what’s going on and what is being said about me. I have outgrown this.
“We don’t much like to learn. We always claim to know everything,” he said before hastening to remind his listeners that he and his entire family are Egyptian.
"Our problem in Egypt is that we never say ‘we don’t know’ and we don’t want to reach our goals through the hard work required. We want to reach them while we are in our comfort zone. It will never work.”
Salah’s comments drew sharply contrasting reactions from fans on social media – Egypt’s main platform for free speech – with some delivering scathing criticism of the player for overstepping his boundaries, while others sprang to his defence.
In its entirety, however, the conversation marked a departure from a time not long ago when criticism of Salah was unheard of as millions of Egyptians viewed him as a national hero and an inspirational figure. Perhaps more importantly, many of Egypt’s 100 million people saw him as a precious source of joy and pride while embroiled in the bleak struggle to make ends meet under difficult economic conditions.
Significantly, the criticism came at a time when Salah, the Premier League’s best player and top scorer in the 2017/18 season, was suffering a goal drought. He has not scored in five consecutive matches, a first since he moved to Liverpool in the summer of 2017.
Some believe that goal drought has something to do with the ferocity of criticism he has been subjected to this week.
“Had he made those comments last season, fans would have applauded him for making them,” said Karim Ramzy, a sports analyst who hosts a popular TV football show.
"It has been a while since he made people happy. His comments were unfortunate, but the popular reaction was disproportionately critical," he told The National.
Fans incensed by his comments were not so diplomatic. One reminded him that the social media users he has scorned contributed to his winning some individual prizes through their voting.
“The people whom he sees as unwilling to put in the hard work are the same people who are suffering just to survive,” tweeted one. “His comments mocked the people and betrayed a sense of superiority,” wrote another.
Many reminded him of African and Arab footballers whose track record matches or nears his. They cited the Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba, George Weah, the current president of Liberia who starred for AC Milan, Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and Egypt's Mohamed Aboutrika.
Those who defended Salah sought to shift focus to his footballing skills, reminding everyone of his relatively young age and pointing out how popular perception of the player in Egypt violently swings from “pride of the Arabs” to “who the hell does he think he is?”.
Retired Egyptian striker Ahmed Hossam Mido, whose career included stints in England and the Netherlands, counselled Egyptians to stop criticising Salah and instead enjoy his football.
Addressing the fans, he said: “What would you have done if Zlatan Ibrahimovic, considering all his provocative pronouncements, was Egyptian?” Mido wrote about the maverick Los Angeles Galaxy star and his former Ajax teammate.
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More coverage from the Future Forum
Results
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: RB Kings Bay, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: AF Ensito, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: AF Sourouh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
8.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Baaher, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
9pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Mootahady, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
9.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Dubai Canal, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Al Ain Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Harrab, Bernardo Pinheiro, Majed Al Jahouri
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
Friday’s fixture
6.15pm: Al Wahda v Hatta
6.15pm: Al Dhafra v Ajman
9pm: Al Wasl v Baniyas
9pm: Fujairah v Sharjah
.
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
The team
Videographer: Jear Velasquez
Photography: Romeo Perez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Models: Meti and Clinton at MMG
Video assistant: Zanong Maget
Social media: Fatima Al Mahmoud
