YASIN AYARI refused to celebrate after firing Sweden ahead against Tunisia with a World Cup belter.
The Brighton midfielder, 22, mounted an early challenge for goal of the tournament by smashing in a bouncing ball from 20 yards in the seventh minute.
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Yasin Ayari smashed Sweden into a seventh-minute lead over Tunisia Credit: ITV
But the Brighton midfielder refused to celebrate against the country of his father’s birth Credit: ITV
Liverpool star Alexander Isak and Arsenal‘s Viktor Gyokeres had both threatened the Tunisia goal earlier in the move.
But it was left to Ayari to finish the job when the ball sat up invitingly for him after a botched clearance from the North Africans.
A first World Cup goal scored in such style would normally cue wild celebrations.
But Ayari offered two hands of apology to the Tunisia fans inside Estadio Monterrey while being mobbed by team-mates.
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The youngster grew up in Sweden but was born to a Tunisian dad and a Moroccan mum.
He could have represented the country of his father’s birth on the international stage but chose Sweden instead from youth level right the way through to the senior ranks.
Tunisian officials approached Ayari in 2021 with an offer to represent them at the World Cup the following year.
But the Premier League ace and his dad Azzouz both decided to stick with Sweden and have faith that another World Cup opportunity would come around.
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Azzouz said in an interview with Aftonbladet last month: “My son wanted to play for Tunisia, but I asked him to represent Sweden instead, as it is the country that welcomed and developed him.
“It was his duty to give something back.”
Ayari himself explained: “I was born in Sweden and feel Swedish, and Sweden is the country I want to represent.”
Tunisia boss Sabri Lamouchi admitted before the Sweden game that there are no hard feelings over Ayari’s decision.
He said: “I know him and his brother.
“He made a choice, I have a lot of respect, and he’s a very good player. We wish him after the game best of luck, but that is after the game.”
