Did Yasser Ibrahim deliberately provoke Messi? The player answers

Al Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim has revealed the truth behind his altercation with Lionel Messi during the match against Inter Miami in the Club World Cup, denying that he intended to provoke the Argentine star or stir up any controversy surrounding the incident. Ibrahim explained that the incident was merely a natural moment of tension on the pitch, especially after his teammate Marwan Attia was injured while Messi was running with the ball during a dangerous attack. He said: "What happened was just a temporary nervousness in the atmosphere of the match and everything ended after the final whistle." He added: "Messi is a legend and any player in the world respects him greatly, but football is an exciting game that sometimes stirs emotions, and nothing exceeds the bounds of respect." The defender clarified that his focus is fully on his mission with Al Ahly and that he is completely far from any attempts to inflame the media or create unnecessary tension. Al Ahly is preparing for its crucial match against Brazilian side Palmeiras in the group stage, as the team is looking to achieve a positive result to maintain its chances of qualifying, given that it is level on points with the rest of the teams in the group.