Incensed Egyptian lawyer Bassem Wahba has launched a staggering €1 billion FIFA lawsuit against Sergio Ramos for inflicting “physical and psychological harm” to Liverpool and Egypt forward Mo Salah.
Salah was substituted in tears after suffering shoulder ligament damage in a tussle with Real Madrid captain Ramos during Saturday’s Champions League final in Kiev. Liverpool went on to lose the game 3-1 without their star winger and Salah’s World Cup hopes now seem in doubt.
Speaking on Egyptian TV channel Sada El-Balad, Wahba announced he had filed for compensation with world football’s governing body FIFA for the “physical and psychological harm” Ramos brought not only to Salah but to the Egyptian people.
"Ramos intentionally injured Mo Salah and should be punished about his actions. I've filed a lawsuit and a complaint to FIFA,” Wahba said.
"I'll ask for compensation, which could exceed €1 billion, for the physical and psychological harm that Ramos gave Salah and the Egyptian people."
However, the lawyer seemed to be pragmatic in his estimations of receiving compensation, and in the event he does not receive any money from FIFA, pledged to donate to the state's Long Live Egypt Fund.Salah netted 44 goals in all competitions last term on his way to claiming the Premier League Golden Boot award.
Real captain Ramos went on to win lift the the Madrid side’s third successive Champions League trophy, but has since been admonished online by fans who perceived his actions as a deliberate foul.
Former pornstar and sports broadcaster Mia Khalifa took to Instagram to offer words of support to Loris Karius, who was at fault for Real’s opening and final goals. She called his mistakes “human nature” before attaching the hashtag "#F***YouRamos”.
Thousands of outraged Reds fans have signed a petition titled: “UEFA & FIFA should punish Sergio Ramos for intentionally hurting Mohamed Salah”. At the time of writing, the had reached 380,000 signatures.
Elsewhere, some Twitter users came to the conclusion Russian president Vladimir Putin somehow paid to arrange Salah’s injury so the player would not be fit for Egypt’s Group A clash with host nation Russia on June 19.
However, Salah himself expressed his belief he will be fit in tim for this summer's football festival, tweeting “It was a very tough night, but I'm a fighter. Despite the odds, I'm confident that I'll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need.”
The FIFA World Cup 2018 kicks off in Russia on June 14 when the hosts take on Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The tournament runs until the final on July 15 at the same stadium.