Egyptian actress says controversial photo with Mo Salah 'didn't break Covid rules'

Egyptian actress Nouran Khalil said many other people had also asked for photos with the football star,

2 min read

24 March, 2021

Mo Salah is currently in Kenya ahead of the Pharaohs' clash with Kenya [Getty/ Archive]

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has come under fire after a photo posted on social media appeared to show him breaking social distancing rules which have been enforced by Egypt's football association.

The image, posted by Nouran Khalil to Instagram on Tuesday, showed the Egyptian actress standing with the footballer inside a gym at Cairo's J W Marriott hotel.

Khalil described the photo as the "picture of the century."

But the image caused some embarrassment for the Egyptian Football Association which has forbidden its players from mixing with the public prior to their match on Thursday against Kenya.

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In an earlier statement, the federation said the measures were imposed "to avoid infection of members of the (Egyptian football) mission" travelling to Kenya.

Responding to public criticism, Khalil said in a television interview that she had merely bumped into Salah while training at the gym.

"Many took photos with Mohamed Salah, who was modest and did not refuse them," she added, according to Al-Masry Al-Youm.

Salah, 28, is currently in Kenya ahead of Egypt's AFCON qualifier clash with Kenya on Thursday.

In addition to coronavirus measures, the star striker has been assigned extra security during his stay in the East African country.

Salah's last international tour with the Pharaohs in November saw him sidelined after he tested positive for Covid-19. His last appearance for Egypt was in 2019, when the Pharaohs lost 0-1 to South Africa.

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