FIFA is investigating the reasons why Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe, known as Salt Bae, had access to the field after Argentina’s penalty shoot-out victory over France in the final of the World Cup in Qatar last Sunday (18).
Salt Bae showed up at the Argentinians’ celebrations and took selfies with several of the players. He was even photographed touching the World Cup trophy.
According to football’s highest governing body rules, only world champions and heads of state can touch the cup.
A FIFA spokesman told British cable channel Sky News that the chef was not authorized to enter the pitch and that the governing body “is investigating how individuals gained improper access to the pitch following the closing ceremony at the Lusail stadium on the 18th. December”, in addition to stating that “appropriate internal measures will be taken.”
The presence of the Turkish chef caused an uproar on social media, with netizens saying that it was absurd for the celebrity chef to have touched the trophy.
There is even footage in which Lionel Messi appears to be uncomfortable with the Turk’s insistence on taking a picture with him.
Also according to Sky News, Salt Bae followed FIFA president Gianni Infantino until this Thursday afternoon (22). Now, he stopped doing it. The chef has no formal links or business relationships with FIFA.
The Turk owns the Nusr-Et restaurant chain and earned his nickname because of the peculiar way he usually puts salt on the steaks served in his chain.
It was at Nusr-Et’s Doha unit that Brazilian players ate the golden-rolled steak during the World Cup. The delicacy costs around R$ 3,300 and the visit also caused controversy on social networks.
Worldwide apart, the Salt Bae chain is frequented by heads of state, artists and athletes.
The rule that controls who can touch the trophy, however, is not always followed. In 1994, for example, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, with the cup in his hands, paraded across the lawn of the Rose Bowl stadium, in Pasadena, saying several times to nearby fans: “You can touch it, it’s ours.”
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