Will Mohamed Salah play in Finland with Beşiktaş looming? Trabzonspor faces a major decision

Trabzonspor weighs the risk of playing Salah on artificial grass

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Will Mohamed Salah play in Finland with Beşiktaş looming? Trabzonspor faces a major decision

15.10.26 12:45 Europa Conference League

KuPS

Trabzonspor

Mohamed Salah's participation in Trabzonspor's UEFA Conference League opener against KuPS Kuopio on Thursday 15 October remains uncertain amid renewed concerns over playing on artificial turf.

The 34 year old Egyptian international is preparing for Trabzonspor's European campaign but the playing surface at Tammela Stadium in Tampere has raised questions about whether he will feature against the Finnish side.

The uncertainty follows Salah's recent absence from Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan,when he was rested because of concerns surrounding the artificial pitch in Juba.

Turkish media have since reported that Trabzonspor head coach Thomas Reis intends to discuss the situation with the former Liverpool forward before deciding on his involvement.

Despite the speculation, Trabzonspor have not officially announced that Salah will miss Thursday's encounter.

Why could Mohamed Salah miss the KuPS match?

The issue centres on Tammela Stadium which uses an artificial playing surface.

The venue, located in Tampere rather than Kuopio, will host KuPS's Conference League home fixtures this season.

Salah faced a similar situation during September's international break.

As Foot Africa previously reported on his absence against South Sudan, the Egyptian Football Association confirmed that the national team's coaching staff had agreed to rest their captain.

The decision was intended to protect the player from potential physical problems associated with the playing surface.

The Egyptian FA explained that the decision had been agreed with Salah before the team's opening qualifier against Angola.

However, that precautionary decision does not automatically mean Salah will also miss Trabzonspor's European fixture.

🗣️ Finnish club KuPS statement to @ismaeelmahmoudd of @winwinallsports earlier this month: “The artificial grass of the stadium has been renovated this year, so it is in excellent condition in general. I know playing on artificial grass can divide opinions, but the pitch is certainly safe for players”
— Salah Updates (@SalahUpdates) October 13, 2026

Trabzonspor official addresses Salah's availability

Earlier this month, Trabzonspor administrative manager Emrah Tok addressed the possibility of Salah featuring against KuPS.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Cairo24 on 3 October, Tok indicated that the Egyptian forward could participate if he was sufficiently fit.

"Of course, he will play against KuPS in the Conference League if he is ready" Tok said.

His comments suggested that Salah's involvement would depend on his readiness rather than an automatic refusal to play on artificial turf.

Nevertheless, the final decision remains with Trabzonspor's technical staff and no confirmed starting lineup has been released.

Salah's impressive form strengthens his case

Salah's possible absence would represent a significant attacking setback for Trabzonspor.

The Egyptian has enjoyed an outstanding start to his first season in Turkey recording seven goals and three assists in his opening seven Süper Lig appearances according to Foot Africa's report on his early season record.

His latest contribution came on 10 October when he provided an assist during Trabzonspor's 3-0 victory over Samsunspor.

Salah started that match and was substituted in the 77th minute, providing further evidence of his recent competitive involvement.

His attacking influence has been particularly important alongside Franculino Djú and Ernest Muçi, giving Trabzonspor several options in the final third.

Whether Reis is prepared to use his leading forward on the synthetic surface remains the central question ahead of the European encounter.

Trabzonspor staff will discuss playing the UEFA Conference League match against KuPS with Mohamed Salah. Salah, the 34 year old legend, does not like playing on artificial turf as it can be a risk concerning injury. A decision will be made after speaking to Salah. — @Fuzulev https://t.co/oPkHfmLImy
— Salah Updates (@SalahUpdates) October 12, 2026

When will Salah's participation be confirmed?

KuPS will host Trabzonspor at Tammela Stadium on Thursday, 15 October with kickoff scheduled for 16:45 GMT.

The match represents the opening round of the 2026 /27 UEFA Conference League league phase.

Trabzonspor have continued their preparations for the trip to Finland, with attention now turning to the travelling squad, the pre-match press conference and the final team selection.

The Turkish club also face Beşiktaş in the Süper Lig on 19 October, adding another consideration to Reis's squad management.

For now, Salah remains a potential option against KuPS but confirmation of his involvement will depend on Trabzonspor's final selection.

The official matchday lineup will ultimately settle whether the Egyptian captain makes his first Conference League appearance for the Turkish club.

Khaled Hegazy |

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