Notorious influencer Salt Bae has been spotted entering the Ataturk Stadium ahead of the Champions League final.
The Turkish restauranteur rose to fame when a video of his bizarre method of preparing steaks for his guests went viral in 2017. Since then he has attended numerous top-level sporting events, being granted access all areas passes.
But he was at the centre of controversy in December when he somehow gained pitch access following the World Cup final. He pestered numerous Argentina players during their celebrations and even got his hands on the trophy.
Concerns of a repeat of that incident will have risen after the chef was photographed entering the stadium which will host this year's Champions League final. Manchester City take on Inter Milan in the showpiece event in Istanbul.
This will not be the first Champions League final that Salt Bae has attended, he previously watched Real Madrid's win over Liverpool in 2018. After that game, he posed with Sergio Ramos with the trophy.
But he gained notoriety just six months ago when he repeatedly pestered Lionel Messi for a photograph, before the superstar was able to get rid of him. He also grabbed the trophy, kissing it and holding it.
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Those events led to FIFA opening an investigation, with only a select group of people, including heads of state, FIFA officials and the winning teams meant to be able to touch the trophy.
A statement at the time read: “Following a review, Fifa has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail stadium on 18 December. The appropriate internal action will be taken.”
Salt Bae was widely condemned for his actions in Qatar and there will be hopes that he does not try to make himself the centre of attention on Saturday night. Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan was one of those to slam the chef.
He told talkSPORT: "It's ridiculous. It's a ridiculous look... It defies convention, it breaks protocol. It looks like cronyism, it smells like cronyism, it walks and talks like cronyism, so guess what it is? It's bleeding cronyism. It's unprofessional. There's no place for him. He shouldn't have been on the pitch."
Fans were also left furious, with one supporter saying: "You shouldn't touch the Cup. You 're not a champion." Antoher added: "Hot take, but you shouldn't be allowed to hold the trophy unless you've won it."
A third concluded: "Why you are holding it and why are you are on the field? You shouldn't be there. This is the time for players who have worked hard and not for celebrities to hang around and take selfies for their own promo."
