Salt Bae says he will ‘NEVER set foot on a World Cup pitch again’ as he explains why he harassed Argentina players and won the trophy after the final in Qatar last year
Celebrity chef Salt Bae has opened up about his global humiliation in last year’s World Cup final, when he bizarrely took to the pitch and chased several Argentine players moments after beating France to win the trophy.
Lionel Messi appeared visibly frustrated with the famous chef trying to get to him as he celebrated winning the only major trophy to elude him in his glittering career.
In other goofy scenes, the chef put another player’s medal in his mouth and continued to try and grab the Argentina team trophy as he was celebrated.
Now real name Nusret Gokce, 39, has tried to explain his thoughts and says he will never step foot on the pitch again at the World Cup.
‘I love Argentina; I lived there. I went to support them,” he said The temperature why he was at the game.
‘A large number of [the team] came to the restaurant. I did not feel like a foreigner. It was a special moment. I can’t do anything against the reason I was there, but I will never set foot on the World Cup pitch again.
Lionel Messi was visibly unimpressed with Salt Bae chasing him moments after winning the World Cup with Argentina last year
Salt Bae couldn’t take the hint and caught it a second time in goofy scenes
Messi finally shook hands with the Z-lister reluctantly at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar
FIFA was asked how Salt Bae gained access to the Lusail Stadium pitch
The 39-year-old showed a complete lack of class and cared more about having his moment with the trophy than letting the players celebrate
“There were two billion people watching the World Cup… How many people are talking about me? Five billion. The whole world.’
“I didn’t go to the field for the purpose of publicity; I just wanted to. Then it was a bit of a surprise. There were at least 1,000 other people on the ground, but when they showed the video, they realized it was just me.
“I never, ever wanted to eclipse anything. I didn’t like the attention. I didn’t kick anyone, steal anything.
Footage has surfaced on social media showing the Turkish chief desperately trying to get closer to Messi – putting his hand on his shoulder and encouraging him to reluctantly shake his hand before trying to hold him back again.
Salt Bae also approached Messi’s Argentina teammate Angel Di Maria as he posed for a video with the winger and said ‘Wow’ as they held the trophy together.
He then knocked the precious gold trophy, hitting it with a silver ring he was wearing, as it made an audible noise, leaving Di Maria completely puzzled beside him.
FIFA rules state that only a ‘very select group of people’ can touch the trophy, including World Cup winners and heads of state, calling into question why the Z-lister was allowed to approach it.
The governing body said it was investigating how he entered the pitch, but did not publicly reveal any findings.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has previously been photographed at restaurants in Salt Bae.
