Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has faced significant criticism after posting a celebratory photo on social media just hours after a car crash marred the club's Premier League victory parade.
The Egyptian forward shared an image of himself kissing the Premier League trophy at 8:24pm on Monday, approximately two hours after a black SUV ploughed through fans gathered on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.
The ill-timed post appeared whilst emergency services were still treating victims of the incident, which reportedly left 47 people injured, including four children, with 27 requiring hospitalisation.
The controversial social media update was eventually deleted amid growing backlash from supporters.
Mohamed Salah has come under fire after his ill-timed social media post
Reuters
The incident occurred around 6pm on Monday when a black SUV drove into unsuspecting fans who had gathered to celebrate Liverpool's Premier League triumph.
Merseyside Police swiftly detained a 53-year-old man from Liverpool in connection with the crash.
Emergency services responded promptly to the chaotic scene, with a local restaurant, Riva Blu, being converted into a makeshift emergency room.
An air ambulance also landed to provide assistance to the injured.
The festive atmosphere of the parade quickly turned to panic as first responders rushed to treat the victims.
JUST IN: Gary Lineker will NOT face police action over anti-Semitic post as Met Police make statement
Police have urged the public to refrain from speculating about the suspect's motives or sharing distressing footage on social media.
Salah's post, which showed him embracing the Premier League trophy at Anfield, was shared without any caption and appeared to have been pre-scheduled by his social media team.
The timing drew immediate criticism from Liverpool supporters. "It's not the right time, respect the painful incident," one fan commented.
READ MORE: Novak Djokovic reveals retirement plans: 'Thinking about my end of the road'
Liverpool was plunged into chaos after a car drove through a crowd of people on Monday
Reuters
Another supporter wrote: "This is why you should never relinquish control of your socials to a soulless media team. Completely inappropriate."
A third added: "This scheduled post has landed at a bad time. They need to do damage control."
Some fans defended the 32-year-old, suggesting the lack of foresight was the fault of his PR team rather than the player himself.
The post remained online for approximately an hour before being deleted, though neither Salah nor his representatives have commented on the social media mistake as of Tuesday.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Mohamed Salah posted a picture of him kissing the trophy, which was quickly deleted
X
Liverpool FC issued a statement following the incident: "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.
"We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident."
Despite the controversy, Salah enjoyed a remarkable season, winning the Premier League title, Player of the Season award and claiming his fourth Golden Boot with 29 goals, six ahead of nearest rival Alexander Isak.
The Premier League also released a statement describing the events as "appalling" and offering support to those affected.
Most Read
