CAIRO: An Egyptian columnist has ignited a firestorm on social media by calling on Liverpool’s star forward Mohamed Salah to shave his beard, saying he looks like a “terrorist.”
In an article published on Sunday by the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram, Salah Montaser said Salah should shave his beard as it “puts him in one basket with extremists.... and terrorists.”
Fans criticized the article on social media, saying facial hair is a personal choice and that people shouldn’t be judged on their appearance.
Salah is the Premier League’s joint-top scorer, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane, with 24 goals this season. He is on one of the best scoring sprees in Europe’s big five leagues right now.
He is a huge celebrity in his native Egypt, which is struggling to combat an Daesh-led insurgency.
Journalist’s call for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to shave beard sparks social media outrage
Updated 12 March 2018
Journalist’s call for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to shave beard sparks social media outrage
