Salt Bae, a popular Turkish chef, has been slammed for violating FIFA rules during the 2022 World Cup trophy celebrations at the Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
The chef, whose real name is Nusret Gökçe, posted photos of himself holding the coveted trophy alongside Argentine players during the wild celebrations.
Moreover, a video of him making his trademark gesture while Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was posing for a photo with the 6kg trophy has gone viral.
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According to the world football governing body, only former and current winners and heads of state are permitted to lay their hands on the trophy.
Kenyan journalist Eric Njiru, who covered the entire tournament in Qatar, has disclosed that high-ranking FIFA officials were not impressed with Bae's behaviour.
"This hasn’t gone down well with the people up there. Only current and former winners as well as sitting presidents are allowed to touch the FIFA World Cup trophy. Who allowed Salt bae here?" ended Njiru.
Salt Bae broke into the limelight in 2017 when his seasoning and preparing meat technique was widely shared on the internet.
The 39-year-old owns more than 20 steakhouses in different regions of the world.
As of September this year, a 24-karat-draped tomahawk cost approximately $1,1600 (Ksh 1,400,000) in his steakhouses.
Some Kenyan leaders who have met and enjoyed Salt Bae's cooking include current and former Presidents.
William Ruto met Gökçe in November 2020 during a state visit to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Ruto's predecessor Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta also hung out with Salt Bae in 2018 at his Nusr-Et restaurant in Dubai.