FIFA is investigating how celebrity chef Salt Bae was allowed onto the pitch to celebrate with Argentina’s players after the 2022 World Cup final.
Turkish restaurateur, real name Nusret Gokce, is under investigation by the government agency for gaining “unauthorized access” to the on-field celebrations at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium.
Argentina defeated France on penalties on Sunday to become world champions for the third time. After the trophy was handed out, the players and coaching staff celebrated on the field with close friends and family.
But many were stunned and outraged to see Gokce there, with the 39-year-old widely mocked for trying to take pictures with the winning players, including Lionel Messi, which mostly failed.
Perhaps most scandalously, Gokce later got his hands on the World Cup himself, despite FIFA’s strict rules on who actually gets to touch the coveted trophy.
According to the FIFA website, “The original trophy is a priceless icon and can only be touched and held by a very select group of people, including former winners and heads of state.”
The governing body has confirmed that Gokce’s presence on the field was unauthorized, despite wearing official accreditation.
A spokesperson said: “Following an assessment, FIFA has identified individuals who were given unauthorized access to the pitch following the closing ceremony at Lusail Stadium on December 18.
“Appropriate internal measures will be taken.”
Gokce is said to be a friend of much-criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was filmed hugging the chef at his restaurant in Qatar during the World Cup.
In other news, Gokce has now been officially banned from playing next year’s US Open Cup final, the US equivalent of the FA Cup, due to his antics in Qatar.
Author: Callum McAvoy
Source: Metro.co
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I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a keen interest in sports and have written for many different publications. I am currently working as an author at 24 News Recorder. I cover mostly sports news but also write about other topics such as current affairs and politics. I have a strong interest in social media and how it can be used to engage with audiences.