Mo Salah targeted by pitch invaders as security race to help Liverpool star

19 November 2023 , 19:26

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Mohamed Salah was confronted by pitch invaders

Mohamed Salah had to be protected by his team-mates and security after pitch invaders appeared to target him in Egypt’s win over Sierra Leone.

Salah picked up an assist as Egypt ran out 2-0 winners in Monrovia, Liberia, in their World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone on Sunday. Former Aston Villa striker Trezeguet, who now plays for Trabzonspor in Turkey, scored both goals to ensure a perfect start to qualifying for the away side.

Sierra Leone finished the match with nine men following red cards for Derby County midfielder Tyrese Fornah and defender Abdul Jarju Kabia. And the feisty scenes on the pitch spilled into the stands, where tensions boiled over in the closing stages.

Footage from the 89th minute of the game posted on social media shows security in hi-vis jackets rushing onto the pitch to apprehend a pitch invader, who got close to Salah. As a group huddled around the invader, another charged out of the stands and sprinted towards Salah.

Salah’s team-mate Mohamed Abdelmonem is seen guarding the Liverpool star from the potential threat. The pitch invader then gave up and ran back towards the stands, dodging the onrushing security as he goes.

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Salah appeared completely untroubled by the incident. He nonchalantly raised his shirt to his face to wipe away some sweat before two soldiers in combat uniform ushered him further away from potential danger.

Mohamed Salah's team-mates protected him

Security and soldiers rushed onto the pitch

It is far from the first time that Salah has had to deal with such incidents, which are a fairly regular occurrence due to his high profile. The 31-year-old forward is the biggest star in African football and has grown used to the increased attention while playing for his country.

Back in November 2021 he was the target for three separate pitch invaders during Egypt’s World Cup qualifier against Angola.

And there have also been similar incidents while playing for Liverpool. He was confronted by a pitch invader who was trying to take a photo of him following Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Southampton in November 2021 and he made headlines in August 2018 with his kind gesture to a young child who ran onto the pitch to see him.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be delighted to see him unscathed on this occasion, with the Reds preparing for a tough assignment away to Manchester City next up in the Premier League on Saturday. Once he gets his players back from international duty, Klopp won’t have much time to ready them for the challenge that awaits at the Etihad Stadium. It will be a top-of-the-table clash, with Liverpool just a point behind defending champions City in the Premier League.

Felix Keith