From Juba to Finland: Pundit explains why Salah's artificial turf decisions were not contradictory

Egyptian sports pundit Abdelrahman Sherif has defended the decision to rest Mohamed Salah against South Sudan insisting that his subsequent appearance for Trabzonspor on artificial turf in Finland does not represent a contradiction.

Speaking exclusively to Foot Africa, Sherif addressed the controversy surrounding Salah's availability for Egypt, his impressive European performance and the importance of managing the 34 year old forward's playing time.

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Salah's artificial turf controversy: Why Finland was different

The debate resurfaced after Salah scored and provided an assist in Trabzonspor's 4-2 UEFA Conference League victory over KuPS Kuopio on Thursday 15 October.

His performance came just weeks after Egypt decided to rest their captain against South Sudan in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers because of concerns surrounding the artificial playing surface in Juba.

Asked whether the two decisions appeared contradictory, Sherif rejected that interpretation.

"The situations were completely different. The quality of the artificial pitches in South Sudan and Finland was not the same," he told Foot Africa.

According to the Egyptian pundit, the playing surface in South Sudan was difficult to use and posed potential injury concerns while the challenging weather conditions added another complication.

He argued that Finland offered more favourable playing conditions, making Salah's participation easier to justify.

Sherif also stressed that decisions involving an international player's availability should not be viewed as the responsibility of one individual.

"These decisions are made through agreement between all parties, not by one person alone. The player, club management, Egyptian Football Association and national team coach all have to be involved."

Salah's fitness, captaincy and future at Trabzonspor

Salah delivered another influential performance against KuPS, assisting Paul Onuachu's early opener before scoring himself shortly before half-time.

However, the Egyptian was substituted in the 55th minute, with UEFA's official statistics confirming that he finished the match with one goal and one assist.

Sherif believes Trabzonspor handled the situation correctly, particularly considering Salah's age and the demands of the season.

"They managed the situation properly because, physically, Salah can no longer handle the same workload as before due to his age. His playing time needs to be managed carefully especially with such a long season ahead"

The pundit also welcomed Salah's appointment as Trabzonspor captain during the European encounter, describing the decision as a natural reflection of his experience.

Although Salah only recently joined the Turkish club, Sherif believes his leadership qualities and previous achievements make him a suitable choice.

He compared Salah's influence at Trabzonspor with his years at Liverpool, where the forward repeatedly delivered decisive performances in important matches.

According to Sherif, that ability to carry responsibility is now being repeated in Turkish football, albeit at a lower competitive level.

Sherif calls for transparency over Salah's Egypt absences

Beyond the differences in playing conditions, Sherif addressed the wider discussion surrounding Salah's relationship with the Egyptian national team.

Following the controversy surrounding Salah's departure from Egypt's September training camp, questions emerged about communication between the player, the national team and supporters.

However, Sherif insisted that the relationship remains positive.

"Salah's relationship with the national team is good but people tend to give certain matters more importance than they deserve"

He acknowledged that events during the training camp before Salah's departure had contributed to the surrounding controversy, without providing further details.

For Sherif, the main issue is ensuring that supporters receive clear information before decisions become a source of public speculation.

"Everything needs to be clear to the fans. If there are agreements that a player will not participate, they should be announced early, not after problems arise and different interpretations begin"

The Egyptian pundit concluded by urging supporters to focus on backing Hossam Hassan's side rather than allowing disagreements over individual players to overshadow the team's objectives.

He emphasised the importance of unity as Egypt continue their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the continental tournament scheduled for next summer.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

Related teams and leagues

Egypt

Trabzonspor

Europa Conference League

AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations