FIFA has issued a response to questions about Salt Bae breaking rules at the World Cup final, suggesting the chef gained "undue" access.
Salt Bae, real name Nusret Gokce, joined Argentina's players on the pitch as the Albiceleste celebrated their triumph. He had his hands on the trophy at times, contrary to FIFA rules, and the governing body has finally issued a response.
"The original FIFA World Cup Trophy can only be touched and held by a very select group of people, which includes former winners of the FIFA World Cup and heads of state," FIFA's rules state. Now, three days after the incident, an investigation into it all has begun.
"Following a review, FIFA has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail stadium on 18 December," a FIFA response reads. "The appropriate internal action will be taken."
Gokce was not the only individual to join players and staff on the field. He was not named directly in FIFA's statement, which also does not state that he received explicit permission to join the Argentina stars.
Messi was seen walking away from the chef, who also appeared to tease the son of Argentina defender Cristian Romero. Gokce was banned from the 2023 US Open Cup after the incident, while it remains to be seen whether further punishment awaits.
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Gokce has shared a number f photos of the celebrations on his Instagram page. One, captioned 'Wowww Best celebration in the world," shows him taking the trophy from the grasp of a bemused Lisandro Martinez before performing his trademark salt sprinkle.
Before the celebrations, Argentina had got the better of France in a pulsating World Cup final. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick for the 2018 champions, first taking the game to extra-time and then forcing a penalty shoot-out, only for misses from Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni to ensure Les Bleus would not go back-to-back.
The eventual champions made a slow start to the tournament, losing to Saudi Arabia in their group stage opener. They responded with a series of wins, though, cruising past Croatia in the semi-finals before getting the better of France at Lusail Stadium.
Messi scored in each of the knockout rounds, including two in the final, and also converted from the spot as Lionel Scaloni's team won their penalty shoot-out. However, the veteran missed out on the golden boot to Mbappe who finished the tournament with eight goals.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner will now be reunited with club team-mate Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain. Messi had been linked with a move to Major League Soccer, but now appears posed to extend his stay in the French capital.
