Mohamed Salah told Egypt team officials and teammates that he is considering retiring from international play because he is angry about being used as a political symbol while the World Cup squad was based in Chechnya, two people close to the player told The Associated Press.

Salah said he was particularly annoyed with a team banquet hosted by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who used the dinner to grant Salah "honorary citizenship," according to the two people, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

Kadyrov has been accused of human rights violations.

Egypt soccer federation spokesman Osama Ismail said that Salah has not complained to the federation. "Only what Salah writes on his Twitter account should be counted on."

In an email sent to CNN, the Egyptian Football Federation added that it was surprised that Salah was ready to "quit the national team" and that the 26-year-old hadn't informed them of that intention.

"We were always informed by Salah when he takes any decisions," said the statement.

"We spend the whole day together and he has never discussed this issue with any of the delegation's members.

"We are here in a sports event and we are following FIFA procedures, we don't discuss politics, and if there is any political discussion, it should be directed to FIFA."

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