"Salt Bae is a disgrace" - Fans slam the Turkish chef for forcing Lionel Messi and other Argentina players to take photos with FIFA World Cup trophy
Salt Bae was pictured holding the FIFA World Cup trophy after Lionel Messi led Argentina to an unprecedented win over France in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, December 18. This has drawn the ire of many fans, who are shocked that the Turkish chef was allowed onto the pitch to hold the trophy.
Usually, only the players, their family members, and members of staff are expected on the field to celebrate the win. However, in this case, Salt Bae, who garnered viral recognition for pouring salt on meat, was also allowed on the pitch.
It was shocking to fans that he was allowed to touch the World Cup trophy along with taking pictures with players who did not look too happy about the publicity stunt.
Many fans took to Twitter to lash out at Salt Bae, with others slamming FIFA for letting him onto the pitch, while questioning how he got hold of the trophy. Here is a selection of their angry tweets:
It is an embarrassment for FIFA that #saltbae was even allowed to get onto the pitch during Argentina's trophy celebrations, let alone touch the trophy.
Fans have gone wild as only players, staff, and family members should be allowed to touch the trophy. Yet a Turkish chef can? https://t.co/PDQH2IN5pz
Salt Bae is an idiot. His antics were not appreciated. Argentina great moment! #saltbae #argfra #FRAARG
Everything about this Salt Bae's Instagram is cringy as hell but the videos he's posted from the pitch are just awful. He basically is trying to wrestle the trophy away from Lisandro Martinez in one of them. twitter.com/iambillary/sta… https://t.co/YCHQO3oUAH
A collection of Salt Bae trying for clout with these players. So painful to watch. Like forcing himself between 2 players and trying to take the trophy away while players try to maintain professionalism, but their faces can be clearly read they are annoyed https://t.co/BbChdBEK3M
I had no idea who Salt Bae was before the World Cup - I still have no idea (and don’t care) who he is. What I do know is that he had no place and no right to be on the field or to touch Messi and THE CUP. Everyone he approached looked so uncomfortable. GROSS behaviour.
Before, his videos made me laugh, but … This man did not have to be on the field, while Argentina celebrated winning the world cup, this man is a clown who just wanted to have his photo and I think it's very good that Messi ignored him! #saltbae #messi twitter.com/barstoolsports…
Well done Messi for ignoring Salt Bae on the football pitch. We may wonder what the hell he was doing there...Ridiculous.
Salt Bae is a disgrace. Forcibly inserting himself into these players’ once in a lifetime moment is probably the most cringe thing any of us have ever seen.
Tugging on Messi repeatedly during the biggest moment of his life after he said no several times…disgusting @FIFAcom twitter.com/BarstoolReags/…
Even Messi knows salt bae is a hack https://t.co/c457o1GnHt
Lionel Messi and other Argentine players were also pictured carrying the FIFA World Cup after they triumphed over France 4-2 on penalties. It was arguably one of the best finals in the history of the competition, as a miraculous comeback from the Frenchmen was not enough to secure the win.
At half-time, La Albiceleste were two goals up, and it almost seemed like the coveted trophy would be in their grasp before long. However, France had no intentions of giving up, with Didier Deschamps making two substitutions before half-time.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in the space of 100 seconds to bring France back into the game and push it to extra time. Lionel Messi added another goal, but Mbappe leveled things once more with a hat-trick in extra time.
Eventually, the final went to penalties, where a clinical Argentina side scored all their efforts and won the FIFA World Cup.
Lionel Messi ignored Salt Bae as the celebrity chef congratulated him after Argentina's FIFA World Cup triumph
While La Albiceleste players were elated at their moment of glory, they went in search of their loved ones, with hugs and kisses going all round.
Messi also had the same intentions, but he was interrupted temporarily by none other than Salt Bae, who wanted to celebrate with the legendary playmaker.
Messi told Salt Bae no twice while he's trying to hug his family, guy chased and grabbed him again. What a prick. Only time I saw Messi angry in the last hour. https://t.co/6nBPifUtLz
Although Lionel Messi gave the celebrity chef the handshake and selfie he wanted, the playmaker did not have a smile on his face. According to Marca, La Pulga just wanted to enjoy the moment with his family, rather than taking a photo with an over-enthusiastic fan on the pitch.
It is still uncertain how the Turkish chef even got on the pitch, when only FIFA officials, footballing legends, members of staff, and the players' families were allowed in.