Egypt release Mo Salah statement after Liverpool star embroiled in World Cup substitution controversy

The Egyptian FA have quashed rumours that Liverpool ace Mo Salah snubbed a substitution while on duty for his country.

The 31-year-old talisman was in action throughout the recent international break, featuring for the Pharaohs in their World Cup qualifying matches against Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau.

Salah found the back of the net with a brilliant effort to clinch a 1-1 draw in the latter match but soon found himself at the centre of a substitution scandal. As stoppage time approached, Mostafa Fathi and Nasser Maher were lined up to enter the fray, yet only Maher made it onto the pitch. Speculation swirled that Fathi was meant to replace Salah, who allegedly refused to be taken off, leading Fathi to return to the bench.

However, an official statement has put these whispers to bed, clarifying: "There is absolutely no truth to the rumours that Mohamed Salah refused to leave the pitch. Salah was not going to be substituted off in the first place. Hossam Hassan was content with only bringing on Nasser Maher."

This isn't the first bout of controversy surrounding Salah's national team appearances. In March, he was omitted from the squad as he worked to recover from a hamstring injury.

EFA board member Walid El-Attar has revealed details about Salah's injury and his communication with Liverpool, stating: "There was communication between Liverpool, the EFA, and Mohamed Salah. There was also an exchange of official letters in which Salah's full injury condition was explained.

"Official communication is the most important, and this is what happened between Liverpool and the EFA. Personally, I had a phone call with Mohamed Salah. The general idea is that Salah needs to return to the pitch gradually, and this is already happening with Liverpool. He needs continuous monitoring with the medical team.

"Salah will be absent from the upcoming Egyptian national team camp, but he will be present normally during the international break in June, which is the most important, as we will play World Cup qualifiers during that time. Mohamed Salah does not at all object to joining the Egyptian national team at any time. On the contrary, Salah loves to play for Egypt. Everyone in the EFA and the Egyptian national team aims to promote the interest of the national team, as well as Mohamed Salah."

This update comes after Salah had to withdraw early from the Egypt squad during the African Cup of Nations in January due to injury.