In an article published by Egyptian state run newspaper Al-Ahram last Sunday, Salah Montaser criticised Liverpool star Mohamed Salah for his beard, saying that it "puts him in one basket with extremists.... and terrorists.”
Salah has been in scintillating form this season and currently leads the Premier League goalscoring charts with 24 goals, tied with Tottenham's Harry Kane.
The Egyptian is a massive celebrity in his native country, which is currently struggling with an insurgency of the Islamic State.
My hot take on the situation is that the Mr. Montaser is simply an Everton fan and is hoping that by Salah getting rid of his beard the Egyptian will lose his form in a Samson-esque turn of events.
Predictably fans have widely rounded on Montaser's article:
Lmfaoooo did an Egyptian journalist actually say Mohamed Salah needs to shave his beard because it makes him look like a terrorist? Wtf lol.
— Naim (@MourinhoEsquee) March 13, 2018
So Egypt writers call for Mo Salah to shave his beard, saying it makes him look like a terrorist?,and as a result fans reacted angrily to the article on social media saying facial hair is a personal choice and people shouldn't be judged on their appearance which i agree with?%
— The Lethal Trio??'??'?? (@k_dreads1) March 12, 2018
Seriously dumb writers if that is indeed what they said. Ridiculous.
— Moby LFC Scout (@MobyHaque) March 12, 2018
If anything he MUST keep his beard. The best way to break the stereotype is for someone high profile enough to buck it. #salah #MoSalah #ynwa #liverpoolfc #beards #terrorists
— Fergus Ong (@Thefergusong) March 13, 2018
That freaking journalist should shave his terrorist mentality
The only bombs MO salah has blown is scoring goals for Liverpool #ynwa— Ebele Kwentua (@EKwentua) March 13, 2018
