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Mohamed Salah has been granted honorary citizenship by Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov at a banquet held to say goodbye to the Egypt World Cup squad.

Egypt's squad adopted the Russian region's capital, Grozny, as their base for the tournament and the choice has been criticised due to the Kadyrov regime and the long distances the team would have to travel for their matches.

Team officials have dismissed the criticism, saying the city is on FIFA's list of approved bases and conditions there were perfect for the team.

The banquet on Friday night was held at Kadyrov's presidential palace in Grozny and the Chechen leader posed with Liverpool forward Salah for pictures, while pinning a medal on his chest.

He recently came under further pressure when reports surfaced of a broad crackdown on homosexual people in Chechnya.

Salah, 26, has been urged to explain the situation by Liverpool fan group Kop Outs, which represents the LGBT community, and LGBT fan group alliance Pride In Football.

They issued a joint statement that read: "We utterly condemn the acceptance by Mo Salah of any honour from Ramzan Kadyrov's Chechnya."

The statement added: "Mo and all players have a responsibility to uphold human rights and should set standards of behaviour.

"We ask him to return the honorary citizenship as an acknowledgement of the persecution of LGBT+ people in Chechnya."

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/35849/11414957/mohamed-salah-honoured-by-chechnya-leader-ramzan-kadyrov

CC: Dominique, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Good for him, his fitness cost Egypt at the world cup, they so much depend on Salah. Take Ronaldo out of Portugal line up and the team is rubbish.

Is that a country?

sunnysunny69:
Good for him, his fitness cost Egypt at the world cup, they so much depend on Salah. Take Ronaldo out of Portugal line up and the team is rubbish.

Yet they won the finals without him