Mo Salah Chechnya row: Egypt star 'considering future' with national team after being used as 'political symbol' by controversial leader Ramzan Kadyrov

Football star Mohamed Salah is reportedly considering quitting the Egyptian national team because he is angry about being used as a political pawn during the World Cup.

Salah is annoyed that photos of him with controversial Chechyna leader Ramzan Kadyrov became a major talking point of the tournament.

During the trip, his team attended a banquet hosted leader Kadyrov, who used the dinner to grant Salah "honorary citizenship”.

The predominantly Muslim region of Chechnya – in southern Russia – has been devastated by wars between separatists and Russian forces.

And Kadyrov, a former rebel who switched his loyalties to Moscow, faces accusations of gross human rights violations, including abductions and killings.

The US treasury has imposed sanctions against Mr Kadyrov who is accused of repressing women and torturing gay men in 'concentration camps'.

Two people close to the sporting star told the Associated Press that Salah was annoyed about being used in Chechen politics and wanted to focus on football only.

Salah, who also took part in a photo opportunity with Kadyrov, has been criticised by the British media for allowing the Chechen leader to use him to improve the government's international image.

The meetings with Kadyrov carry the potential to hurt his popularity in Europe, where he has been something of an ambassador for moderate Islam.

Egypt’s football federation spokesman Osama Ismail said that Salah has not complained to the federation and said: "Only what Salah writes on his Twitter account should be counted on."

If Salah were to quit the Pharaohs, it would be a major embarrassment to the federation and the government.

Egypt coach Hector Cuper, was cagey when asked Sunday about Kadyrov's use of Salah to make political gains. He said FIFA listed Grozny as one of the cities that could be used as a World Cup training base.

Human Rights Watch and other groups unsuccessfully tried to persuade FIFA to drop Grozny from the list of possible team bases.

The banquet Friday night was held at Kadyrov's presidential palace in Grozny, and the Chechen leader posed with Salah for pictures while pinning a medal on his chest.

"It is a deserved honour," Kadyrov wrote on Russian social media, adding that Salah's presence had driven "unprecedented interest in football."

A video clip of the ceremony showed Kadyrov seated at a table flanked by Salah and Hany Abo Rida, chairman of Egypt's football federation. Dancing troupes and singers performed for Kadyrov and his guests.