Trabzonspor confirmed Mohamed Salah in their travelling squad for a UEFA Conference League match against Finnish side KuPS on artificial turf on October 15, 2026, directly contradicting Egypt's decision to rest the player from international duty on the same surface last month.
On September 26, the Egyptian Football Association announced Salah would miss Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against South Sudan to protect him from injury risk on artificial turf. The decision was made in coordination with technical staff led by Hossam Hassan, Egypt's national team coach.
Hassan confirmed that Salah had raised the subject of the artificial surface with him before Egypt's Angola match and that the pair agreed Salah would sit out against South Sudan. According to Goal.com, the central question now is: "If artificial turf is dangerous enough to warrant resting Salah on international duty, what has changed to allow him into a club squad for a game on exactly the same stuff?"
Why the contradiction matters now
BeIN SPORTS reported that Hassan is once again facing questions over his role in the South Sudan decision. The outlet noted that Salah's latest squad inclusion "does not prove that the national team coach was wrong, but it does raise fresh questions about the criteria used to manage the availability of Egypt's captain."
Salah is Egypt's captain and now plays for Trabzonspor after his recent transfer from Liverpool. His selection for the European club competition on artificial turf, weeks after being rested from international duty on the same surface, suggests either that the injury risk assessment has changed or that different standards apply to club and international matches.
What remains uncertain about Salah's involvement
Salah's selection for Trabzonspor does not guarantee he will start, come off the bench, or play at all in the KuPS match. Trabzonspor's coaching staff must still decide whether to name him in the starting lineup, bring him on in the second half, or keep him on the bench.
BeIN SPORTS noted there is no confirmation whether Salah's physical condition is identical to what it was during Egypt's training camp, leaving open the possibility that circumstances may have changed since the decision to rest him from international duty.
No explanation from Egypt's coaching staff
The apparent contradiction has not been explained by either Hossam Hassan or the Egyptian Football Association. No statement has clarified what criteria the coaching staff uses to assess injury risk on artificial surfaces, or why those criteria would differ between international and club matches.
BeIN SPORTS reported that Salah's involvement in Finland could intensify the debate, although answers will depend on what happens during the match and whether further explanations emerge afterward. For now, his call-up has not put the controversy to rest; instead, it has reopened questions about his absence from Egypt.