Salt Bae Banned from Soccer

By Kurtis Ottey

@nusr_et / via Instagram

Following Argentina’s epic victory over France in the World Cup, friends and family of the winning side took the pitch to celebrate with their loved ones. Most of which felt welcome to bask in the moment of what was achieved by the Messi-led Argentine side. However, there was one person in particular who, appearance seemed to come with mixed reviews. His name you ask, “Salt Bae”.

Nusret Gökçe, also known as "salt bae," is a Turkish chef and restaurateur who gained widespread fame on social media for his distinctive style of seasoning and presenting meat dishes. Gökçe is the owner of a chain of Nusr-Et steakhouses, which are known for their high-quality meat and stylish presentation. Gökçe has also appeared on television cooking shows in Turkey and abroad, and has gained a large following on social media for his videos and posts about cooking and food.

Gökçe was born in 1983 in Erzurum, Turkey and began working in the restaurant industry at a young age. He opened his first Nusr-Et restaurant in 2010, and the chain has since grown to include multiple locations in Turkey and abroad. Gökçe's signature style involves seasoning meat with salt and other spices before cooking it, and then dramatically sprinkling additional salt on the finished dish as a finishing touch.

In addition to his work as a chef and restaurateur, Gökçe has also been involved in philanthropy and charitable causes. He has donated to a number of causes, including the construction of a school in his hometown of Erzurum and the funding of a surgery for a young boy with a heart condition.

Gökçe's fame has made him a controversial figure in some circles, and he has faced criticism for his extravagant lifestyle and for some of his business practices. However, he remains a well-known and influential figure in the world of food and cuisine.

ROBERT MICHAEL/PICTURE ALLIANCE VIA GETTY

As it stands Fifa has launched a full-blown investigation on how Gökçe managed to get on the field post game. The World Cup trophy is only supposed to be held by a select group of people. Needless to say, Gökçe wasn’t one of those people. The general consensus on social media is that Salt Bae’s antics on the pitch were nothing more than an attempt to “chase clout”. One thing that’s for certain, come 2026 there will be stricter guidelines on who’s permitted access to the field for championship celebrations.