Egypt Is On The British Government's Red List, That's The Reason Liverpool Forbid Salah To Strengthen His Country

Mohamed Salah (Instagram @mosalah)

JAKARTA - Liverpool refused to release Mohamed Salah for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Angola and Gabon due to quarantine regulations in England. This was revealed by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), Monday.

"The association informed Liverpool of their regret regarding Mohamed Salah for not being able to join the national team for the matches against Angola in Cairo and Gabon in Franceville as part of the ... World Cup qualifiers", the EFA said in a statement posted on its social media.

🔴 ليفربول يعتذر عن عدم انضمام صلاح للمنتخب بسبب كورونا .. واتحاد الكرة يطلب الاستثناء من الفيفا …⬇️⬇️#EFA pic.twitter.com/auQ55AwPcG

— EFA.eg (@EFA) August 23, 2021

Cited from Antara, Tuesday, British media previously reported that the Reds also refused to release Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, and Alisson Becker for Brazil's three World Cup qualifiers. Both Egypt and Brazil are on the British government's "red list".

It said Liverpool's decision was prompted by "mandatory 10-day isolation" for travelers returning from those countries.

The EFA said it had urged FIFA to waive quarantine restrictions for international players to make it easier for them to join the national team for the 2022 World Cup qualification.

Liverpool had also previously refused to allow Salah to play in the Olympics, where Egypt reached the quarter-finals before losing to gold medalists Brazil.

After their title defense bid, last season was hit by a series of injuries, Liverpool made a solid start to the current season by winning both of their opening Premier League games.

60' - A lovely Elliott cross is taken down by Salah brilliantly. He creates space in a tight area before his low effort is cleared off the line.

[1-0]#LIVBUR pic.twitter.com/pLajGVLjBJ

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 21, 2021

Salah, 29, became the first player in Premier League history to score in the opening game in five successive seasons.

Hossam Badry, the Egypt national team coach, last week announced a list of foreign players unable to join the Egypt squad including Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal and Ahmed Hassan of Olympiakos.