Chelsea’s Salah gets Egypt military service ‘lifted’

Egypt’s Prime Minister has stepped in to resolve Chelsea winger Mohammad Salah’s military service issues and relieve him of the duty, according to The Independent.

It had been reported that Salah, may have had to return to Egypt to face military service ranging from 1-3 years.

This was due to the cancellation of his enrollment in an education program, by the Minister of Higher Education, which allowed him to live in England.

The Chelsea winger would have then had to return to North Africa and wouldn’t have been able to play again until his service was completed.

However on Monday, Egyptian national coach Shawky Gharib had a meeting with the Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab and the Minister of Higher Education. During the meeting it was decided that the Chelsea winger would not have to return home for military service.

It’s understood that after the meeting finished, Gharib thanked the Minister of Higher Education for his understanding and intervention in Salah’s situation. The Egyptian national coach reportedly said the situation could have been “threatening” to Egyptian football.

This gives him the all clear and Salah has now travelled with the Chelsea squad to Austria for a pre-season training camp, and can prepare for the upcoming 2014/2015 season.

Salah joined Chelsea last January for a fee of £11m ($18.8m), and has had a promising start by scoring two goals and creating an assist in 11 appearances for the blues. The Egyptian recently scored a goal on Saturday in Chelsea’s 3-2 win over AFC Wimbledon during a pre-season friendly.