SALT BAE revealed his thinking behind his “pathetic” World Cup final pitch invasion.
And he made a promise ahead of the 2026 tournament that will delight Lionel Messi and football fans alike.
The celebrity Turkish butcher – real name Nusret Gokce – rose to stardom with his £1,000 gold-plated steaks and signature salt-sprinkling move that has contributed to amassing 52million Instagram followers and a wealth of £60m.
However, he sparked controversy in Qatar last December when he made his way on to the pitch of the Lusail Stadium following Argentina’s dramatic win against France.
Salt Bae, 39, pestered Messi for a selfie, bit a winner’s medal, grabbed the iconic gold trophy from Argentina players, kissed it, did his famous gesture over it and lifted it above his head as if celebrating winning the World Cup.
According to Fifa’s guidelines, only World Cup winners and heads of state are allowed to touch the trophy – with the world football governing body investigating how he was allowed to make his move.
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Now an “embarrassed” Gokce has explained his cringeworthy actions – and vowed never to repeat his mistake.
Speaking to The Times, he said: “It was a combination of my love of Argentina and my excitement.
“I love Argentina, I’ve lived there. I went to support them. Many of [the team] have come to the restaurant. I didn’t feel a stranger.
“It was a special moment. I can’t do anything about the reason I was there, but I would never, ever step on the World Cup pitch again.
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“There were two billion people watching the World Cup… how many people are speaking about me? Five billion. The whole world.
“I didn’t go on the pitch with the purpose of advertising, I just felt like it. Then it was a bit of a surprise.
“There were at least another 1,000 people on the pitch but when they show the video they make out it was just me.
“I never, ever wanted to overshadow anything. I didn’t like the attention. I didn’t kick anyone, steal anything.”
Salt Bae was subsequently banned from a number of sporting events in the US.
However, the Turkish chef – dubbed a “pest” by Gary Lineker – turned up at the Champions League final this month in his homeland.
Upon spotting him arriving at the ground, fans flocked to social media.
One wrote: “Of course! He will be on the pitch lifting the cup with Pep and the boys.”
Another added: “This guy is so embarrassing.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
