Liverpool icon reacts to 'rigged' World Cup claims after Mo Salah heartbreak

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Egypt's exit from the World Cup led to one player claiming that the tournament is 'fixed', with former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah finding himself embroiled in the controversyMohamed Salah and Egypt's World Cup ended in controversy(Image: Getty Images)John Arne Riise has hit out at Egypt’s accusations that the World Cup has been “rigged” - although the former Liverpool star does sympathize with Mohamed Salah’s side after their defeat to Argentina.Salah’s tournament ended in controversy as the Pharaohs were knocked out following a remarkable comeback from the defending champions. Lionel Messi was among the scorers as Argentina came from 2-0 down to book a quarter-final spot against Switzerland.Egypt though has reacted angrily to the manner in which it was dumped out of the tournament, with two incidents in particular raising the ire of its manager and players.The African team had a goal disallowed by VAR when Marwan Attia was ajudged to have pulled back Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez before Mostafa Ziko turned home from Salah’s through ball.And Egypt took issue with Enzo Fernandez’s eventual winner in stoppage time, arguing that Salah had been tripped by Julian Alvarez in the opposite penalty area before Argentina countered.Chaos ensued on the Egyptian bench, with one of the team’s coaches sent off while manager Hossam Hassan appeared to use FIFA’s approved “No Racism Gesture” which is supposed to signal an incident of racial abuse to the referee.

Ziko would go on to claim that the tournament has been “fixed” in an extraordinary post-match interview.Egypt's bench was left furious with Argentina's late winner, with one coach sent off for his protests(Image: Getty Images)Riise feels the Egypt forward went too far with his claims, but the former Norway international did raise questions over the decisions made in the game as his own country remains on course to meet Argentina.“First of all, I think it’s ridiculous to hear people saying everything is rigged,” Riise told BestBettingSites. They went back something like 17 seconds to find a foul.John Arne Riise has slammed accusations that the World Cup is fixed(Image: Michael Campanella/Getty Images)“Yes, it’s a foul if you look at the video replay, but usually, you don't see those given when play has moved on that far, and the referee didn't give it initially on the pitch.

Learn moreLiverpool FC have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27, inspired by iconic adidas strip worn during the club's 1989/90 title-winning campaign.Riise has also had his say on the other big controversy surrounding the World Cup, with the former left-back insisting that FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s ban for a red card and allow him to play for the USA against Belgium worked against the hosts.“Oh, 100% it motivated them [Belgium],” Riise said. “I'm certain they talked about it in the dressing room and said, ‘Listen, let’s go out there, smash them, and show them that this rhetoric isn't right.’“You shouldn't technically need extra motivation at a World Cup, but an emotional edge like that always helps.“You could see it after the whistle – the Belgian players were celebrating specifically with gestures aimed at the Trump narrative.