After Haiti, Mohamed Salah is in Egypt’s jersey controversy. FIFA objected to Salah’s seven-star jersey. Egypt will have to change the jersey before the first game. The football governing body has made this clear. FIFA has ordered two jersey changes for the seven-time African champions.
In fact, the emblem or badge on the front of the Egyptian jersey has seven stars painted on it. Egypt used the stars to symbolize their seven-time Africa Cup of Nations victory. However, according to FIFA rules, stars cannot be used to win any other tournament on the World Cup jersey. A team can use the star above the jersey emblem only after winning the World Cup. Like Brazil, they use five stars on their jerseys. FIFA has ordered the seven stars to be removed as Egypt failed to win the World Cup.
Not only will the star be removed, Salah’s team jersey name and number will also be changed. In fact, original Egyptian jerseys have players’ names and jersey numbers in gold. FIFA argues that writing in those colors puts match directors and broadcasters at a disadvantage. FIFA has made it clear that these two changes must be made to the jersey before the first game.
Earlier, a similar controversy arose surrounding the Haitian jersey. The Haitian jersey depicts a battle scene from the country’s struggle for independence. The jerseys worn by the Haitian players in the two warm-up matches before the World Cup bear the image of the historic Battle of Bartier in 1813. Haiti gained its independence in this war against the French colonial powers. The jersey is painted with the flag of Poland along with the scene. FIFA rules on sporting goods do not allow the use of political, religious or personal messages and slogans in any sporting goods. So Haiti was asked to change that flag. This time too, the jersey of Egypt has been changed for the same reason.