How a footballer changed the image of Muslims in Britain

Pars Today – A study conducted by Stanford University has revealed that the presence of Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian Muslim star of Liverpool FC, has had a significant impact on reducing Islamophobia in the Merseyside region of the United Kingdom.

According to Pars Today, quoting ABNA, since Mohamed Salah joined Liverpool in 2017, hate crimes targeting Muslims in the Merseyside area—which includes the city of Liverpool—have dropped by approximately 19%, while rates of other types of crime remained unchanged.

An analysis of more than 15 million tweets by British football fans found that anti-Islamic tweets among Liverpool supporters were cut in half, falling from 7.2% to 3.4%.

Researchers attribute this change to increased public familiarity with Islamic culture through a widely admired and successful figure like Mohamed Salah—someone who has presented a positive image of a Muslim both on the pitch and in his social interactions.

According to researchers, these findings indicate that the presence of well-known and admired public figures can play a crucial role in reducing religious prejudice and promoting peaceful coexistence.

The good character of Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool football star, inspired two British sisters to take an interest in Islam in 2021—and ultimately, they both converted to the faith. The sisters, named Amy and Nikki, stated that they were moved by the behavior of Muslims in Europe and by Salah’s humbleness. After a period of research and study about Islam, they chose the religion freely, without any pressure or coercion.

Mohamed Salah with his wife and children

MG