Salt Bae has been slammed by fans on social media after he posted an image with the World Cup trophy following Argentina's win over France on Sunday evening.
The Turkish chef was allowed onto the pitch after the full-time whistle and appeared to celebrate with the Argentina players after Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup for the first time in his career. In a thrilling affair at the Lusail Stadium, La Albiceleste came out on top with a penalty shootout after the game finished 3-3 after extra-time.
Messi had given Argentina the lead from the spot, before Angel di Maria doubled their advantage as finished off a superb team move. But France fought back and levelled the contest with moments to go as Kylian Mbappe struck twice to take the game to extra-time, with his second a peach of a volley.
The drama didn't stop there as Argentina retook the lead through Messi's second of the match, only for Mbappe to strike his hat-trick and equalise in the 118th minute. But Lionel Scaloni's side scraped past their opponents in the shootout thanks to Gonzalo Montiel's strike as they ran out 4-2 victors.
After the trophy celebrations, Salt Bae, whose actual name is Nusret Gokce, went onto the pitch and held the World Cup alongside some of the Argentina players. He even bit into one of the winner medals. The trophy is famously only allowed to be touched by a select few, and it is safe to say Salt Bae isn't one of them.
In fact, FIFA says: "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." Salt Bae had his hands around the trophy and took a number of photos with the accolade, while posing in front of the cameras.
Fans on social media shared their disappointment in seeing Salt Bae on the pitch with the trophy. One Instagrammer said: "You shouldn't touch the Cup. You 're not a champion."
Another questioned why the Turkish restauranteur was allowed to grasp the monumental accolade: "I thought only world champions could touch the Cup?"
A third claimed: "Why you are holding it and why are you are on the field? You shouldn't be there. This is the time for players who have worked hard and not for celebrities to hang around and take selfies for their own promo."
One said: "Hot take, but you shouldn't be allowed to hold the trophy unless you've won it."
Another lashed out: "They worked hard for that trophy. You shouldn’t even be touching it!"
Salt Bae isn't the only celebrity who has been allowed to go and touch the trophy after the lift, with Rhianna famously going on and getting her hands on the World Cup after Germany's win in 2014. The pop star was pictured with the solid-gold prize seized in her hands, with the Daily Mail reporting that she had kissed the trophy.
After her night of celebrations, the singer tweeted: "I touched the cup, held the cup, kissed the cup, took a selfie wit the cup!!! I meeeaan...... what is YO bucket list looking like bruh?"
