FIFA Bans Mo Salah’s New Celebration Style for Bizarre Reasons: The Premier League Reacts

Mo Salah, Liverpool’s star forward, has unexpectedly found himself in the middle of controversy after FIFA made the bizarre decision to ban his new goal celebration across all Premier League stadiums. Salah, who has been in exceptional form under Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot, had recently debuted a unique celebration at Anfield, quickly winning over fans. However, in a shocking twist, FIFA has decided that Salah is no longer allowed to perform the celebration, leaving both fans and pundits confused.

In an unexpected and confusing move, FIFA has now banned Mohamed Salah from showcasing his new celebration anywhere in the Premier League. Salah, who has been prolific under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot, has been a key part of the club’s strong start to the season. However, it’s not just his exceptional play that has been making waves – his new celebration at Anfield became an instant hit with the supporters, only to be cut short by an unforeseen ruling from the sport’s top governing body.

Salah, nicknamed ‘The Egyptian King,’ marked his goal by mimicking the act of shooting two arrows before leaping into the air, embracing teammates Jota and Luis Diaz, and then finishing with a final arrow shot.

Ordinarily, Salah is more restrained when celebrating his many goals, but the importance of this particular goal, both for him and Slot, seemed to lead him to unleash his excitement.

And Liverpool’s supporters loved it, with one fan stating: “Mo Salah doing Archer celebrations — we’re winning the whole thing!”

Another fan confessed, “On my 30th rewatch of that Salah celebration.”

FIFA’s ruling seemed to come out of nowhere, with no immediate explanation given. In a brief statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino simply remarked, *“He is not allowed to do it anymore. We have reviewed the celebration and found it unsuitable for Premier League matches, particularly due to its widespread visibility and potential for unintended consequences. Players need to celebrate responsibly.”* This statement left fans, pundits, and even Salah’s teammates perplexed, as many began to question what exactly made the celebration inappropriate.

As more information trickled out, the reasoning behind FIFA’s decision began to surface. According to sources inside FIFA, the ban was implemented not because the celebration was overtly offensive, but due to an obscure interpretation of an infrequently enforced rule. FIFA officials reportedly expressed concerns that Salah’s pose might be misinterpreted as promoting individual worship or idolatry. In one especially strange explanation, officials worried that young fans might mimic the pose in unsafe ways or that it could be viewed as mocking certain cultural practices.

This reasoning did little to reduce the confusion and frustration among Liverpool fans. Many took to social media to accuse FIFA of overstepping and unfairly targeting Salah. Supporters emphasized that Salah has always been a positive role model on and off the field, and his celebration was simply a joyful nod to his heritage rather than something harmful.

Arne Slot, who took over as Liverpool’s manager this season, also commented on the situation. Speaking in a post-match press conference following Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Brighton, he supported Salah, calling the decision “ridiculous.” Slot stated, *“I don’t see how celebrating a goal in a way that spreads joy and pride can be seen as a problem. Mo has always been a professional, and his celebration was something that connected him with the fans. It’s a shame to see it taken away.”*

Slot’s remarks were echoed by many figures in the football world, including Premier League players and coaches, some of whom poked fun at the ruling. One unnamed Premier League manager joked, *“If we’re banning players for celebrations like that, we might as well start sending them off for smiling too much!”* This sentiment summed up the general disbelief surrounding the decision, which many viewed as unnecessary interference by FIFA.

While Salah has remained mostly quiet on the issue, sources close to him have hinted that he’s frustrated by the ban but will comply with FIFA’s ruling. Still, Salah is determined to keep scoring goals and engaging with his fans in new ways. Reports suggest that he’s already planning a new, FIFA-approved celebration that he intends to reveal at Anfield soon.

Despite the controversy, Salah’s performances on the field remain unaffected. Under Arne Slot, he continues to shine, reaffirming his status as one of the world’s top players. With his explosive speed, lethal finishing, and creative vision, Salah has been crucial to Liverpool’s resurgence, helping to push the team back into Premier League title contention.

The ban on his celebration, however, has added a sour note to what has otherwise been an exciting season. Fans are eager to see how Salah will respond to this unusual ruling, both in his celebrations and his play. FIFA’s decision, meanwhile, is likely to be debated for weeks to come as more questions arise about the strange reasoning behind the ban.

For now, Mo Salah will continue to excel on the pitch, even though his now-iconic celebration has been taken from him. But knowing Salah, it won’t be long before he comes up with another way to celebrate his goals and win the hearts of his fans all over again.