Mo Salah posts moving tribute to Queen Elizabeth II during state funeral

Egyptian football star Mohammed Salah posted a moving tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, the day of the late monarch's state funeral and burial. 

The Liverpool forward tweeted: "The people of Great Britain and the world pay tribute and bid a final farewell to her Majesty." 

It was accompanied by a black and white image of the late queen. 

The 30-year-old commemorated the "legacy and unwavering service" of the UK's longest reigning monarch in the social media post. 

He also wrote that his "thoughts are with the Royal Family on this historic and emotional day".

Today, the people of Great Britain and the world pay tribute and bid a final farewell to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, commemorating her legacy and unwavering service. My thoughts are with the Royal Family on this historic and emotional day. pic.twitter.com/CdBq1cU2rT

— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) September 19, 2022

Salah's tweet, liked over 64,000 times, received mixed reactions from social media users. While some praised the footballer's humanity, others were critical given the UK's historic occupation of Egypt. 

"Does his management even have shame? Salah comes from Egypt we all know what the British Empire has done to Africa," said one user in a tweet which received nearly 800 likes. 

The UK occupied Egypt in 1882.  After decades of British military presence, UK troops withdrew following the 1956 Suez Crisis. Queen Elizabeth II assumed the throne four years before in 1952, after the death of her father George VI. 

Queen Elizabeth died aged 96 at her Scottish residence Balmoral on 8 September. 

Her state funeral was held in London's Westminister Abbey on 19 September.

A number of Middle Eastern leaders and top officials were in attendance, including the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Jordan’s King Abdullah. Egypt was represented by its prime minister.

Following the monarch's death, the English Premier League postponed a number of football matches in a move they said was a "mark of respect".