Salah injured? Blame Putin! Twitterati accuse Russian president of 'arranging' UCL final injury
Social media users have blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the UEFA Champions League final injury to Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah, which may rule him out of Egypt's group game against Russia at the World Cup 2018.
A tearful Salah was subbed off in the first half UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid after suffering a shoulder injury in a tussle with Madrid defender Sergio Ramos.
READ MORE: UEFA Champions League Final 2018 - Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool LIVE UPDATES
Liverpool went on to lose the match 3-1 without their 44-goal talisman. Salah's shoulder ailment will perhaps ruling him out of Russia 2018. He had been due to play at the tournament for Egypt against Russia in Group A on June 19.
Where there is tragedy, there is Russian blame - or at least accusations of it. Social media users quickly took to Twitter to post their conspiracy theories that Russian President Vladimir Putin was responsible for taking out Egypt's star man, thus increasing the chances of Russia advancing from the group stage.
I FIGURED IT OUT... Putin didn’t want Salah to play against Russia in the World Cup #ابن_الوسخهpic.twitter.com/w2N72H9z4z
— Mohammad Alawawdeh (@AhbalPrince) May 26, 2018
Putin arranged Salah's injury so that Russia will advance at the World Cup. He'll probably congratulate Ramos at the very least.
— Ian (@ian_10_19) May 26, 2018
Fact: if you don't think Putin paid Ramos to rip Salah's arm off then you just aren't paying attention #sowoke
— Samuel Army (@BarstoolSam) May 26, 2018
While some were wild conspiracies of Putin mysteriously arranging for the player to somehow be injured, others were outright accusations of bribery.
Vladimir Putin seeing Salah taken off before the World Cup pic.twitter.com/dhUG5ttxp3
— Tom (@TJ14Wanderer) May 26, 2018
Putin payed Sergio Ramos to hurt Salah so Russia would make it out of their World Cup group. No doubt in my mind.
— Kenny Loggins (@SeanLyon75) May 26, 2018
Conspiracy Theory: Putin paid Ramos to end Salah to help Russia's chances of advancing past the group stage at the World Cup.
— Kev-able Kostk-ord (@mpbx3003) May 26, 2018
Putin paid Sergio Ramos to take Mo Salah out of the World Cup. #UCLFinal
— Aayush (@vyasaayush09) May 26, 2018
In Kiev, after a goalless first half, Karim Benzema put Real Madrid ahead thanks to a Karius mistake before Senegalese striker Mane leveled for Liverpool.
Sixty-first minute substitute Gareth Bale then produced one of the greatest Champions League final goals of all-time when he acrobatically put Real in front, much to the surprise of all those around him, just two minutes after coming on.
READ MORE: Stunning Gareth Bale double wins Real unprecedented third UCL title in a row
Then, on 83 minutes, Bale struck from range and keeper Karius again was at fault, palming the ball into his own net and handing victory and a 13th title to Madrid.
Real coach Zinedine Zidane enters history as the first coach to win the tournament three times in a row.
