Mohamed Salah has suggested the Egyptian football association was too hasty in throwing out a teammate from the Africa Cup of Nations for his off-the-pitch conduct.
Amr Warda, 25, was removed from the squad hours before their Group A match against DR Congo on Wednesday following accusations by a Dubai-based Egyptian model that he had harassed her in online exchanges last week. Warda has denied any wrongdoing.
The model, identified in Egyptian media by only one name, Mirihan, accused Warda of using threatening language when she rejected his advances.
"I know how to get your number. You don't know who you [are] dealing with. No one brushes me off," she quoted him as writing to her late one night last week.
Salah, 27, tweeted after Wednesday's match that women must be treated "with the utmost respect" but also that Warda should be given the chance to atone for his mistakes.
The issue was thought to have been resolved with a warning until a video clip surfaced online on Tuesday night purporting to show the player engaging in a sexual act with an unidentified woman. This led to the Egyptian FA to make a brief statement that Warda was expelled ahead of their second Group A game.
The off-field issue did not distract the tournament hosts, who ran out 2-0 winners against DR Congo. Salah got his tournament up and running with the second goal after Ahmed Elmohamady prodded home the first.
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Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, left, fights for the ball with DR Congo forward Elia Meschak. AFP -
Ahmed El Mohamady celebrates scoring Egypt's first goal against DR Congo in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group A match with teammates. Egypt won the match 2-0. Reuters -
Egypt defender Ahmed Elmohamady celebrates after winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations match against DR Congo. AFP -
Javier Aguirre, head coach of Egypt, gives instructions captain Ahmed Elmohamady. EPA -
Egypt forward Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring against DR Congo at the Cairo International Stadium. AFP -
Egypt forward Mohamed Salah scores against DR Congo to make it 2-0. AFP -
Egypt's Mohamed Salah shoots at goal. Reuters -
Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates with his teammates after scoring. EPA -
Egypt's forward Mohamed Salah loses his footing after a challenge from a DR Congo player. EPA -
Egypt defender Ahmed Hegazi speaks with Mohamed Salah and defender Mahmoud Alaa. AFP -
Egypt forward Mohamed Salah takes a breather during the match against DR Congo. AFP -
Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, left, fights for the ball with DR Congo's Elia Meschak. AFP -
Egypt forward Mohamed Salah shakes hands with DR Congo defender Wilfred Moke after the match. AFP -
A trader holds up a replica shirt of Egypt's Mohamed Salah. Reuters -
Egypt forward Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring. AFP -
Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, left, fights for the ball with DR Congo's Marcel Tisserand. AFP -
A fan holds up a message for Egypt's Mohamed Salah ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations match between Uganda and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium on June 26 , 2019. AFP -
DR Congo defender Christian Luyindama fights for the ball with Egypt defender Ahmed Elmohamady. AFP
