I was sent to attack him: Mo Salah targeted in pitch invasion with military throwing punches to protect Liverpool forward and Egypt has released a statement after the incident 

I was sent to attack him: Mo Salah targeted in pitch invasion with military throwing punches to protect Liverpool forward and Egypt has released a statement after the incident

Mohamed Salah was charged at by multiple fans during Egypt’s World Cup qualifier against Serria Leone.

Mohamed Salah had to be escorted off the pitch by the military after he was targeted by pitch invaders during Egypt’s win over Sierra Leone.

Salah helped his country to a 2-0 victory but in the closing stages at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Liberia fans rushed onto the pitch and charged towards Liverpool forward.

 

Security were forced to throw punches as well as tackle fans to the ground in an effort to protect the 31-year-old and clear him from harm’s way.

A statement from the Egyptian FA has explained why Mohamed Salah was targeted by pitch invaders during the Pharoahs’ 2-0 victory against Sierra Leone in Liberia on Sunday.

Salah grabbed an assist while Aston Villa forward Trezeguet scored both of the game’s goals to keep Egypt’s perfect World Cup qualifying run intact. Sierra Leone visibly struggled to keep up with Egypt’s intensity.

They finished the game with nine men after Abdul Jarju Kabia and Derby County star Tyrese Fornah were sent off during the bad-tempered affair. Fornah was the first player to be given his marching orders after a high boot connected with Ahmed Fathi on the stroke of half-time.

 

And then, Kabia was sent for an early bath after a reckless challenge on Omar Marmoush earned him his second yellow card of the game deep in added time.

 

Footage from the 89th minute of the game posted on social media shows security in hi-vis jackets rushing onto the pitch to apprehend a pitch invader with others making their way onto the pitch.

Salah’s Egyptian teammates also jumped to his protection with Mohamed Abdelmonem chasing away one fan before Egyptian staff and soldiers rushed onto the pitch to help form a protective ring around Salah.

 

It remains unknown as to what caused the chaos or the intentions behind the pitch invasion but Salah remained calm throughout the ordeal as he was marched down the tunnel.

 

The first pitch invader was wearing a Liverpool shirt and approached Salah in a non-confrontational way but the same could not be said for the other invaders.

 

Egypt were already 2-0 up before the incident occurred with Trezeguet hitting a double with Sierra Leone ended the game with nine players after Tyrese Fornah and Abdul Jarju Kabia were sent off for second yellow cards.

 

The victory moves Egypt to the top of the World Cup qualifying group with two wins from two after hammering Djibouti 6-0 on Thursday with Salah scoring four goals.

 

Liverpool face Manchester City in the 12.30pm kick off on Saturday as the Premier League resumes after the international break.

Fans ran onto the pitch towards the back end of the game and then again after the final whistle had been blown. Footage appeared to show waves of fans trying to reach Salah, who was escorted off the pitch at the end of the game by armed police.

 

Some had speculated that the pitch invaders were away supporters trying to attack the Liverpool star but according to a statement obtained by the Mirror from Al-Dirandali, the vice president of the Egyptian FA, the aforementioned fans just wanted “to shake hands” with the 31-year-old. Al-Dirandali said: “I felt worried after more than one fan came onto the field because the number of police on the field was small, but thank God, God covered them. It was not intentional because they wanted to shake hands with Mohamed Salah, but it could have caused harm.”

Salah was not harmed during either of the incidents and will fly back to England in the coming days to join his Liverpool team-mates ahead of a must-win encounter with league leaders Manchester City on Saturday. A victory could see the Reds end the weekend top the Premier League table providing Arsenal don’t overtake them on goal difference with a heavy win over Brentford.