Outspoken Turki
Al-Sheikh claims that a shoulder problem picked up in the Champions League
final will dash the international dreams of the Egypt star.
Salah was substituted after 30
minutes of Saturday's showpiece encounter in Kiev, having grappled with Madrid
captain Sergio Ramos and landed heavily on the turf.
Gareth Bale came off the bench to
steal the headlines with a game-changing overhead kick after Sadio Mane
cancelled out Karim Benzema's opener – Reds goalkeeper Loris Karius culpable
for the latter as he was Bale's second seven minutes from time in a 3-1 Madrid
victory.
In his post-match interviews, Reds
boss Jurgen Klopp expressed fears Salah would miss Russia 2018, but the
Egyptian Football Association (EFA) tweeted a statement claiming there was
"optimism" the Premier League Golden Boot winner would be fit for
their Group A opener against Uruguay on June 15 after speaking to Liverpool
officials.
Al-Sheikh holds a number of
administrative roles, including chairman of the Saudi Arabia Sport Authority
and president of the Sports Federation of Islamic Solidarity.
Until the end of last week he was an
honorary president of Egyptian club Al-Ahly and is understood to have close
links to the federation in the North African country.
Al-Sheikh used social media to give
a message of support to Salah before the final but, in a Facebook post on
Sunday, he claimed the 25-year-old's World Cup dream was over – at odds with
the EFA's official line.
"With great sadness, sadly our
great Arab star Mohamed Salah was confirmed in his absence [of] two months to
injury, which means that he will miss the World Cup," he said. "We wish him a speedy recovery.
"I think that Liverpool will
not allow Salah to take the cortisone because it is dangerous for the player in
the long term and will press hard to complete the treatment for two months,
which unfortunately means that we will not see the star Mohamed Salah in the
World Cup."
Saudi Arabia have also been drawn in
Egypt's World Cup group alongside hosts Russia and Al-Sheikh caused controversy
in March when, after Salah scored in a friendly versus Portugal, he tweeted to
suggest it would be beneficial for the Liverpool favourite to miss the
round-robin match against the Gulf state.
"When it comes to Twitter, I
speak as fan and not as a minister,"
he told Four Four Two Arabia when discussing the incident this month.
"When I commented on the Saudi
team, it was because of excitement. I may make mistakes and I might be right
and I might be harsh in some of the terms I use.
"But when it comes to Mohamed
Salah, he's a great Arab player and has allowed us to lift our heads high as
Arabs. I am a fan.
"But what I wish is he wouldn't
play against our team during that match [at the World Cup]. I want to miss him
during this match, just this match."
Source: Goal.com
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