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Is Salt Bae banned from the World Cup final? FIFA's stance after he broke strict rules in 2022

Celebrity chef 'Salt Bae' caused controversy at the end of the World Cup final in 2022

[18 December 2022, Qatar, Lusail: Soccer, World Cup, Argentina - France, final round, final, Lusail Stadium, Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gke, alias Salt Bae, kisses the World Cup trophy. Photo: Robert Michael/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche Fuball Liga and the DFB Deutscher Fuball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or of the match in the form of sequence pictures and/or video-like photo series.]

Salt Bae managed to get his hands on the World Cup trophy in 2022

Is Salt Bae banned from the World Cup final?

1. Salt Bae controversy: Following the thrilling 2022 World Cup final on December 18, 2022 between France and Argentina, the Turkish celebrity chef, widely known as Salt Bae, real name: Nusret Gokce, sparked global outrage by walking onto the pitch at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. He was prominently seen approaching several Argentina players for photographs, including superstar Lionel Messi, who visibly tried to walk away from the chef during the post-match celebrations.
2. Rule break: The most significant breach of traditional sporting protocol occurred when Salt Bae physically held, kissed, and playfully slapped the iconic 18-carat gold World Cup trophy. According to strict FIFA regulations outlined on their official website, this prestigious trophy can be touched or handled only by a very select group of individuals, including former tournament winners and their respective heads of state.
3. No lifetime ban: While many internet rumours circulated that he was completely banned from all future World Cup finals, FIFA has not officially announced a lifetime ban for Salt Bae regarding future World Cup events, including this Sunday's final between Spain and Argentina in New York/New Jersey. However, the global football governing body publicly announced that it had launched a thorough internal investigation to determine how he and other unauthorised individuals gained access to the pitch after the closing ceremony concluded.
4. What FIFA said: In their official communications, a FIFA spokesperson released a firm statement confirming that his presence on the championship field was completely unauthorised and that the appropriate internal action would be taken. The organisation faced massive global criticism and relentless questions about how a mere celebrity chef could easily bypass strict stadium security measures during one of the most highly protected sporting events in the world.
5. Backlash: Despite FIFA's lack of an official, publicly announced ban on the upcoming World Cup tournaments, the intense social media backlash led to very real consequences for the famous restaurateur in other major sporting competitions. The U.S. Open Cup, which proudly stands as the oldest national soccer competition in the United States, officially announced on Twitter that Salt Bae was strictly banned from attending their 2023 championship final.
6. Other bans in place: The fallout from the Qatar controversy even extended far beyond the realm of sports, effectively demonstrating the widespread public distaste for his behaviour on the international pitch. The popular international music festival Rolling Loud proactively announced on social media that the chef was also explicitly banned from attending its Los Angeles event in March 2023, as a direct consequence of his disrespectful World Cup final antics.
7. Read more: Salt Bae denies being kicked out of Champions League party after World Cup final drama.

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