Topping coverage in the international press this morning is the ongoing dispute between Mohamed Salah and the Egyptian Football Association. The dispute shows just how much Egyptians love and support the Liverpool winger, Hamza Hendawi and Sam Magdy write for the Associated Press. The footballer’s statements on Twitter and Facebook expressing his frustration over the dispute with state-owned mobile network WE opened the floodgates of support from his fans. Salah’s star power is also behind the “top-level” political intervention to sort out the legal troubles he faces over image rights. “No sportsman in Egypt has ever commanded the adulation and respect Salah has enjoyed since joining Liverpool last year.”

This is where we draw the line: Salah might end up bowing out of playing for Egypt’s national team at the upcoming World Cup in Russia if the issue is not resolved soon, his agent reportedly suggested, according to Sports Illustrated. Egyptian fans are getting antsy waiting for a resolution to the problem, “as both Egypt and the tournament as a whole will surely be poorer without Salah.”

This comes as the Liverpool star has just been voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association (FWA), Reuters reports. “Mo Salah is the worthiest of winners. He is also the first African to receive the award and we congratulate him on a magnificent season,” FWA Chairman Patrick Barclay said.

Meanwhile, FIFA has given five African football federations, including Egypt’s, USD 2 mn each in player bonuses ahead of the World Cup, the AP reports. The bonuses were handed out to the Egyptian, Moroccan, Nigerian, Senegalese, and Tunisian federations in advance to preempt disputes with FIFA over the payment, according to the newswire.