Football’s not important.
It’s not.
This isn’t even about perspective or some things being more important, it’s about realising the real place football has in our lives. It’s there as an escape. It’s good craic getting wrapped up in the direction of a leather ball and theorising and eulogising about who can kick something better than someone else but it’s only the best distraction on this planet.
It’s not life or death and no matter how disastrous you think each game and each season is for your football team, another one comes right after it. Players arrive, they go, most are forgotten and the world keeps on turning.
In Sinai on Friday, the world stopped for the most dreadful circumstance.
305 people who went to their mosque to worship a higher being and to believe in a better life were killed in the sanctuary of their holy place. And, after the deadliest terrorist attack in Egypt in recent memory, Mohamed Salah’s thoughts were with his country.
خالص العزاء للشعب المصري ولكل أسر شهداء مسجد العريش…
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) November 24, 2017
The Liverpool attacker was quick to send his condolences to the people of Egypt.
“My sincere condolences to the Egyptian people and all the families of the martyrs of El Arish mosque.”
On Saturday, it wasn’t really about honouring them – it was just about remembering them. On Saturday, it was only a game of football and that’s something that Salah is doing easily enough these days anyway.
His finish against Chelsea brought his tally to 10 Premier League goals for the season already – in 13 games (12 starts). He’s the top scorer in the league, ahead of Kane, Aguero, Lukaku and Morata. But reaching double digits on Saturday was not a cause for celebration. Nothing was.
After sliding in past Courtois, Salah pumped the breaks into a walk and put his hands up to show he was not going to celebrate the goal.
Some suggested that it was out of respect to his former club Chelsea but the Liverpool Echo confirmed that it was a tribute to those killed in Egypt.
His decision not to celebrate was so he could best remember the 305 who died in El Arish mosque.
When Jurgen Klopp was asked after the game about Salah and the tragedy, the German had perfect perspective.
“It’s not the place to talk about this,” he said.
“Our life in football as a professional is nobody cares how we feel. We have to deliver. Obviously he was able to do that.”
He delivered again, millions appreciate that and millions will remember it. In the grand scheme of things though, it’s not really important.
