That’s crazy! Mo Salah shoots a penalty for Egypt with the World Cup at stake and 3,000 laser pointers in his eyes.
Guess what happens next…. pic.twitter.com/8PvpKUBksR
— Stu Holden (@stuholden) March 29, 2022
Sports fans will do just about anything to get inside their opponents’ heads, but it seems they went too far during a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
With a chance to stamp their 2022 World Cup tickets, Senegalese fans appeared to shine laser pointers in the direction of Egypt’s Mohamed Salah during a crucial penalty kick.
In a video that has been doing the rounds online, dozens of laser pointers appear to be trained on the Liverpool striker, who eventually sailed the shot over the net.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah prepares for a penalty kick as lasers are aimed in his directionTwitter/Henry Bushnell
The football association FIFA officially prohibits the use of laser pointers and other objects that could distract players and officials.
The Egyptian Football Federation has since claimed its side have been victims of racism and allegedly abusive behavior by fans.
“The Egyptian team faced racism after offensive banners appeared in the stands of the stadium against the players, particularly Mohamed Salah, the team leader,” CNN said in the statement on Instagram.
The light from green laser pointers can be seen on the pitch as Egypt’s Mohamed Salah kicks the ball during a penalty shootoutAP
Salah missed the kick in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against SenegalTwitter/Henry Bushnell
“The crowd also terrorized the players by throwing glass and rocks at them during the warm-up,” the message continued.
A FIFA spokesman told Sky Sports that the organization was “currently in the process of analyzing the official match reports of the FIFA World Cup qualifier between Senegal and Egypt”.
“The relevant information contained in the game reports will be evaluated by the responsible disciplinary bodies before deciding on the next steps.”