FIFA Bans Mo Salah’s New Celebration Style for Bizarre Reasons: The Premier League Reacts

Mo Salah, Liverpool’s star forward, has found himself at the center of an unexpected controversy after FIFA announced a bizarre decision to ban his new goal celebration across all Premier League stadiums. Salah, who has been in phenomenal form under Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot, had recently introduced a unique celebration at Anfield, which quickly became a fan favorite. However, in a shocking turn of events, FIFA has ruled that Salah is no longer permitted to perform the celebration, citing reasons that have left both fans and pundits baffled.

In a surprising and somewhat baffling decision, FIFA has officially banned Mohamed Salah from performing his recent celebration style anywhere in the Premier League. Salah, who has been in prolific form under new Liverpool manager Arne Slot, has been a key figure in Liverpool’s strong start to the season. However, it’s not just his footballing brilliance that’s been making headlines — his new celebration at Anfield has captivated fans, only to be cut short by an unexpected ruling from football’s governing body.

‘The Egyptian King’ showed his excitement for the goal by mimicking shooting two arrows before jumping into the air, hugging teammates Jota and Luis Diaz and finishing the move off with one more arrow.

Typically, Salah is reserved when adding to his impressive goal tally but it seems that the magnitude of this goal for him and Slot meant that he could not contain his excitement.

And Liverpool fans are certainly a fan of his celebration, with one writing: “Mo salah doing Archer celebrations we are winning the f*****g lot.”

While another confessed, “On my 30th rewatch of that Salah celebration

FIFA’s ruling came out of the blue, with no clear explanation initially provided. In a brief statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, *“He is not allowed to do it anymore. We have reviewed the celebration and found it unsuitable for Premier League matches, particularly due to its widespread visibility and potential for unintended consequences. Players need to celebrate responsibly.”* The statement left fans, pundits, and even Salah’s teammates puzzled, as many began to wonder what was so inappropriate about the celebration.

As the dust began to settle, more details started to emerge. According to sources within FIFA, the ban was imposed not because the celebration itself was overtly offensive or inappropriate, but because of an obscure interpretation of a rarely enforced regulation. FIFA officials reportedly raised concerns over the celebration’s influence, suggesting that Salah’s pose could be misconstrued as promoting individual worship or idolatry. In one particularly strange claim, officials expressed worry that younger fans might imitate the pose in ways that could lead to injuries or even be considered as mockery in certain cultural contexts.

This explanation did little to quell the confusion and frustration from Liverpool fans. Many took to social media, accusing FIFA of overreaching and targeting Salah unfairly. Supporters pointed out that Salah has been a role model on and off the pitch, and his celebration was a light-hearted tribute to his roots rather than something harmful or controversial.

Arne Slot, who has taken charge of Liverpool this season, also weighed in on the situation. Speaking in a post-match press conference after Liverpool’s 3-0 win against Brighton, he voiced his support for Salah, calling the decision “nonsensical.” Slot said, *“I don’t see how celebrating a goal in a manner that brings joy and pride can be seen as problematic. Mo has been an incredible professional, and his celebration is something that connects him with the fans. It’s disappointing to see it taken away from him.”*

Slot’s comments were echoed by many in the footballing world, including Premier League players and managers, some of whom were quick to mock the decision. One unnamed Premier League manager quipped, *“If we’re banning players for celebrations like that, we’re going to have to start sending them off for smiling too much!”* This sentiment captured the disbelief that surrounded the ruling, which many felt was unnecessary meddling from FIFA.

While Salah himself has remained largely quiet on the matter, sources close to the player have suggested that he is frustrated with the ban but will comply with FIFA’s decision. Nevertheless, Salah is determined to continue scoring and finding new ways to connect with his fans. It’s been reported that he is already working on a new, FIFA-compliant celebration that he plans to unveil at Anfield in the coming weeks.

Despite the controversy, Salah’s performances on the pitch remain unaffected. Under Arne Slot, he has continued to excel, showing why he is considered one of the best players in the world. With his blistering pace, clinical finishing, and creative play, Salah has been instrumental in Liverpool’s resurgence, helping the team challenge for the Premier League title once again.

The ban on his celebration, however, has left a sour note in an otherwise thrilling season. Fans will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how Salah responds to this peculiar ruling, both in terms of his celebrations and his performances. FIFA’s decision, meanwhile, will likely continue to be debated in the coming weeks as more questions arise about the strange reasoning behind the ban.

For now, Mo Salah will continue to shine on the pitch, even if he has to leave behind the celebration that briefly became iconic at Anfield. But knowing Salah, it won’t be long before he finds a new way to celebrate his goals — and win the hearts of his fans all over again.