MAKKAH – Capturing people’s hearts across Europe and Arab world, Egyptian Muslim footballer Mohamed Salah has been granted a plot of land in the holy city of Makkah, while a Lebanese Falafel place in Liverpool also announced they would be giving out free meals for every goal Salah scores and lanterns this Ramadan.
“There are several choices regarding giving this piece of land. The way to go will be determined by captain Mohamed Salah as well as the Saudi system,” Vice President of the local municipality in Mecca Fahd Al-Rowky announced on Monday to Sabq newspaper, Egypt Independent reported.
“If the Saudi system allows the land to be owned by Salah, he will be given a piece of land in holy Mecca outside Haram. The other option will be to have a mosque built on the land in his name.”
He added that the third option is to sell the piece of land and give Salah the money, should he wish that.
Al-Rowky’s announcement came as a congratulatory gesture to the player for winning “Premier League Player of the Year” award, through scoring 41 goals and 13 assists, in his first season with Liverpool.
Praising Salah as a role model, Al-Rowky said that the move is an appreciation for Salah and his commendable manners, adding that the player is a wonderful messenger for Islam in Britain.
Egyptian and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was crowned the 2017/18 Premier League Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) on Sunday for his spectacular ongoing 41-goal debut season.
Other titles under his belt include African Player of the Year (2017) and Top Scorer of the Five Leagues.
In Liverpool, a Lebanese Falafel place in Liverpool announced they would be giving out free meals for every goal Salah scores this Ramadan.
They also promised to offer Mo Salah lanterns, among other things, during the holy month.
Hailing from a Muslim-majority country, Salah is a devout Muslim who often prostrates to God on the field after scoring goals – a trend in sports that Egyptian players have started since 2006 during the African Cup of Nations in Egypt- hence nicknamed the ‘Prostrating Pharaohs’.
Last month, the traveling Liverpool fans in the streets of a Portuguese city in midweek struck up a new chant to the tune of the 90s hit “Good Enough” by Dodgy with the line: “If he scores another few, then I’ll be Muslim too!”
A recent report by Football Against Racism in Europe (Fare) found that the success of Liverpool Muslim star Mohamed Salah has significantly decreased hate and race crimes in the English Premier League.
Salah is not the only Muslim player in Liverpool and Premier League. More players can be found in the report below.