Swiss club denies Egyptian soccer player request to skip Israel match

FC Basel's Mohamed Salah had asked not to travel to Israel for Champions League qualifying match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
FC Basel midfielder Mohamed Salah (R) 370 (photo credit: Reuters)
FC Basel midfielder Mohamed Salah (R) 370
(photo credit: Reuters)
The management team that runs the FC Basel soccer club has informed their Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah that he will be required to make the trip to Israel for the second leg of his squad's Champions League qualifying round against Maccabi Tel Aviv, according to Israel Radio.
Salah asked his Swiss bosses for permission to skip the match, but was refused.
During the first leg, which Basel won by a 1-0 score, Salah refused to shake hands with his Israeli opponents. After the final whistle blew to end the match, the Egyptian midfielder demonstrably left the pitch so as to avoid interacting with his Tel Aviv rivals, according to Israel Radio.
The second leg of the qualifying round is scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening.