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Fifa president Gianni Infantino ‘unfollows’ pal Salt Bae on Instagram after World Cup final pitch invasion
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has unfollowed his pal Salt Bae in the wake of his shameful antics after the World Cup final.
His snub came as the world governing body admitted the fame hungry chef should never have been allowed on the pitch to pester Lionel Messi.
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The Turkish cook — real name Nusret Gökçe — has courted a years-long friendship with Fifa president Infantino.
They have been pictured together several times, and the football chief has been gushing in his praise for the flamboyant Instagram star.
During the World Cup, Infantino was filmed introducing Salt Bae to a series of VIPs including the King of Malaysia at a swanky official reception.
The pair were also pictured together in a VIP box alongside Brazil legends Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu.
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Infantino also visited Gökçe's Nusr-Et steakhouse in Doha where he was filmed giving the chef a hug.
And he said: “Football unites the world and Nusret unites the world as well.”
Infantino was also filmed imitating Salt Bae's salt sprinkle gimmick in a cringe-worthy video at his Dubai restaurant in 2020.
He gushed: “He is number one. The meat here is incredible.
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“Food is like football — it’s heart, it’s emotion, it’s love — all the ingredients we can find them here thanks to this man.”
In another video in 2021 Infantino said: “Mr Nusret, number one. The best of the best. An unforgettable evening here in Dubai with Nusret. I’ll come back.
"Legend, he’s a legend. Legend number one. Thank you very much.”
Another snap shows Infantino grinning while holding up a Christmas jumper featuring Salt Bae in knitted form.
And he was pictured in a Salt Bea branded apron and holding a slab of meat, apparently during a private cooking lesson.
However the bromance seems to be over today after he unfollowed Salt Bae on Instagram.
Infantino previously followed 303 accounts but now that is down to 302.
And Salt Bae's official account @nusr_et — with 49.9million followers — no longer comes up on his feed.
It comes after Fifa last night finally responded to the embarrassing scenes on the pitch following Argentina's nailbiting victory on Sunday night.
Gökçe was seen grabbing Messi by the shoulder at least twice as the baffled megastar tried to shrug him off.
The chef — wearing a Fifa security pass — also muscled in on Argentina's celebrations, snatched the trophy from one winner's baby, and bit players' medals.
As well as spoiling the celebrations and annoying the champions, Gökçe also broke Fifa's strict rules by pawing and kissing the trophy.
Only a select group are allowed to handle the £17million gold icon including former winners and heads of state.
The chef faced a furious backlash from his own fans over his attention seeking antics at the World Cup final.
And Fifa was forced into a humiliating admission last night as fury over his conduct grew worldwide.
It said Gökçe should not have been on the pitch and it will discipline staff as part of an official probe.
The governing body said: "Following a review, Fifa has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail Stadium on December 18.
"The appropriate internal action will be taken."
Fifa sources reportedly deny that Gökçe was personally invited on the pitch by Infantino himself.
Salt Bae has also now been barred from attending The US Open Cup, the equivalent of England’s FA Cup, following the disgraceful scenes in Qatar.
Organisers tweeted: "Salt Bae is hereby banned from the 2023 US Open Cup final."
The US Open Cup is a knockout competition featuring teams from the MLS as well as other domestic tournaments.
Salt Bae has brushed off criticism of his conduct - and instead continued trying to show his closeness to football icons.
He reposted an old video of him hugging Messi when he visited his Dubai steakhouse in 2018.
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And another vid shows his shrine to the late Diego Maradona with one table "permanently reserved".
That was despite Maradona ridiculing Salt Bae to his face with a hilarious dig at his "sprinkle" gesture.
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