The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has warned Mohamed Salah, the country's star striker who plays for Premier League's Liverpool that he is not "greater than the game" of soccer, reported The Sun on Thursday.
"The EFA will not tolerate any big heads in the Egypt squad. The EFA will refuse to compile with his extraordinary requests. No player in the Egyptian squad will receive 'special and preferential treatment'. And the EFA will not cede image rights costs to Salah’s management team," said the governing body of Egyptian soccer.
A mural of Salah is found damaged in Cairo. /VCG Photo
Salah's lawyer last week sent the EFA a letter, demanding more body guards to protect his client from being harassed by fans among other requests including image rights protection. According to The Sun, this letter said that he "cannot think of another national association which would treat any player in the disgraceful and abhorrent manner as you have treated Mohamed".
The tension between the two sides further escalated as Salah's team threatened to call for resignations of EFA officials unless they agree to meet their demands including blocking phone calls from fans to his hotel room and exempting Salah from promotional work on behalf of the EFA.
Salah becomes a world-class striker in Liverpool. /VCG Photo
As for image rights, the Reds striker is sponsored by telecommunication company Vodafone while Egypt's national team has a sponsorship deal with competing firm WE. Therefore, Salah cannot allow his photo to be used in public in association to WE.
In response, the furious EFA replied by saying "football is a team game and not a result of the efforts of any one individual. No player is greater than the game, or the team that he represents. Any player selected to represent his country is treated equally and does not and will not receive special privileges above any other player."
(Top picture: Mohamed Salah, star striker of Egypt /VCG Photo)