LONDON: Jurgen Klopp has condemned “disgusting” racist abuse aimed at Mohamed Salah and called for lifetime bans for the Chelsea fans accused of taunting the Liverpool star.
A video circulated on social media ahead of Chelsea’s Europa League match at Slavia Prague this week showed a group of six supporters chanting “Salah is a bomber” repeatedly.
Egypt forward Salah, who played for Chelsea before joining Roma in 2016, is a practicing Muslim and has previously faced abuse about his religion.
Chelsea’s security staff identified three people in the widely shared video and denied that trio entry to Thursday’s clash in Prague.
It is understood that the remaining three people in the video did not attempt to enter Slavia’s Sinobo Stadium for Chelsea’s 1-0 quarter-final first-leg victory.
Liverpool said the video showed “vile discriminatory chants” and was “dangerous and disturbing,” while Chelsea issued a statement pledging to use all available punishments against those involved.
The incident is especially sensitive as Liverpool host Chelsea on Sunday in a match with huge implications in the Premier League title race and the battle to finish in the top four.
Asked about the latest incident of racism in football this season, Klopp made it clear the behavior should not be tolerated.
“It’s disgusting. Another example of something which should not happen. We should not see it as a Chelsea or Liverpool thing,” Klopp told reporters on Friday.
“If you do something like that you should not be able to enter a stadium again, from my point of view, for life,” he added.
Four Chelsea supporters were suspended by the club for allegedly abusing Raheem Sterling during Manchester City’s defeat at Stamford Bridge on December 8.
Chelsea also criticized anti-Semitic chanting by Blues fans during the club’s 2-2 Europa League draw at Hungarian side MOL Vidi on December 13.
Klopp believes life bans from stadiums are the only appropriate punishment for anyone found guilty of racism.
“The stronger the reaction from all of us, the more it will help to avoid things like this in the future,” he said.
The German manager believes football authorities, clubs and players must unite with one voice to condemn such actions and make a stand together.
“It is a complete misunderstanding of how life should be — all parts of racism are that some people think they are more worthy or valuable than others and that’s the biggest misunderstanding in the world out there,” he said.
“Football is the best example of how people from different races can work together brilliantly.
“Go into any dressing room in the world and you see players sitting next to each other, and nobody cares where you come from or who your parents are.
“Because football is very public we talk a lot about this so I think we pretty much have a strong voice and we have to use that strong voice and say altogether things like this are not allowed to happen again.”
Liverpool’s Klopp condemns ‘disgusting’ Salah abuse ahead of Chelsea clash
Liverpool’s Klopp condemns ‘disgusting’ Salah abuse ahead of Chelsea clash
- A video circulated on social media ahead of Chelsea’s Europa League match at Slavia Prague this week showed a group of six supporters chanting ‘Salah is a bomber’
- Egypt forward Salah, who played for Chelsea before joining Roma in 2016, is a practicing Muslim and has previously faced abuse about his religion
‘Riyadh is our showcase event,’ says LIV CEO O’Neil as 2026 season tees off
RIYADH: The 2026 LIV Golf season teed off under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club on Wednesday, with stars including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson getting proceedings underway in the Saudi capital.
Thomas Detry and Peter Uihlein lead the individual leaderboard after 18 holes, both carding seven-under-par 65s, while Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC tops the team standings at 15 under. Sebastian Munoz paced Torque GC with a five-under round, though he was unable to match his opening performance from last year, when he shot eight under.
Arab News spoke to LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil on the opening day of the league’s fifth season.
“The start of the season is a bit like that first day of school when you were a little kid,” O’Neil said. “It was wonderful to be out on the course and on the range, seeing the players. A lot of us haven’t seen each other for quite some time, so it was like the first day of school meets a family reunion.”
O’Neil also highlighted the significance of opening the season in Riyadh.
“Riyadh is our showcase event, and I couldn’t imagine a more fitting place to open,” he said. “There’s something special about LIV at night — it’s something you can’t really describe. You actually have to come and see it.”
LIV Golf has seen significant growth since its debut in 2022, despite pre-season concerns after Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed confirmed they would not return for the 2026 campaign. O’Neil said the league’s broader mission remains unchanged.
“We’re so mission driven. I believe if you stick to your values, good things happen,” he said. “All these incredible stars — DeChambeau, Rahm, Mickelson, Cam Smith, DJ — they wake up every day thinking, how can I grow the game of golf overall?”
That influence is now being felt by LIV’s younger players.
“We’re excited to see all these generations coming together and growing the game,” O’Neil added.
He pointed to Michael La Sasso, the league’s youngest player, as an example.
“Think about it from his parents’ perspective,” O’Neil said. “Is this a good place for him, to be mentored by Phil Mickelson? To learn how to practice, how to travel, how to eat, sleep and take care of your body? How to get through jet lag?”
Travel remains a defining feature of LIV’s global model.
“This notion of playing on five continents is something I couldn’t imagine years ago,” O’Neil said.
Heading into Round 1, a major talking point was the Official World Golf Ranking’s decision to award points to players finishing in the top 10 at LIV events. While LIV welcomed the move, it expressed disappointment that points were limited to only the top 10.
Smash GC captain Talor Gooch addressed the issue in his post-round press conference.
“I don’t think the right thing was done, which is what we’ve experienced at LIV for the last four or five seasons,” Gooch said. “Anyone who says the fair thing was done — I don’t think they’re in tune with reality.”
Despite the debate, Gooch praised the atmosphere in Riyadh.
“It’s amazing being here in Saudi Arabia, playing at night. Then going to Australia and playing in the day — it’s pretty special,” he said.
Australian youngster Elvis Smylie, who impressed on his LIV Golf debut, also spoke positively about his first visit to the Kingdom ahead of next week’s LIV Golf Adelaide.
“I really enjoyed my first trip to Saudi Arabia,” Smylie said. “Adjusting my body clock was a challenge, but it was great to be here. It was also nice to meet His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan out there.”
Round 2 tees off on Thursday with a shotgun start at 6:05pm.
