Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been criticised on social media by Muslim fans after he posted a picture of his family next to a Christmas tree.
Salah, who is a Muslim, captioned the photo with ‘#MerryChristmas’ on his Twitter and Instagram accounts.
The 30-year-old and his family – wife Magi and daughters Makka and Kayan – posed in matching pyjamas for his traditional Christmas post.
Muslims do not traditionally celebrate Christmas but some do partake in the festivities that take place during the Christian holiday.
Salah’s tweet has been slammed by Muslim supporters, with one claiming: ‘I shall be unfollowing you and stop supporting Liverpool because you are celebrating Christmas with the Christians.’
Another said: ‘I’ve been a Liverpool fan since I was born but I will stop supporting the club because you are celebrating Christmas with the Christians. You’ve just lost me as a fan Mo Salah. Goodbye!’
‘Mo Salah, I loved you as a Madrid fan. I viewed you as an excellent player and you always inspired me. However, after this tweet, I can no longer view you as my role model. You disappointed me. If you don‘t delete this tweet, I will have to unfollow you,’ a third said.
Others defended the Egyptian forward, with one fan describing him as the ‘African GOAT’.
‘To us, you are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe combined. Enjoy,’ they said.
Another fan said: ‘The most anticipated Christmas post annually. Merry Christmas Mo.’
Others claim Salah’s annual Christmas post is a curse on Liverpool. After he put a similar picture on social media in 2020, the Reds failed to win a game at Anfield for eight matches in a row.
In 2021, just days after putting a Christmas picture on his social channels, the Egyptian missed a penalty and an open goal against Leicester before Man City went on to win the title.
Salah played the full 90 minutes and scored when Liverpool returned to competitive action after the break for the World Cup in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester City in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup on Thursday.
He is expected to start for Jurgen Klopp’s men in their first Premier League game since the World Cup, the trip to Aston Villa on Boxing Day (today).
