Egypt’s Coach Accuses FIFA of Bias After Heartbreaking Loss to Argentina
Egypt’s head coach, Hossam Hassan, has voiced his strong opinions regarding FIFA’s involvement in their closely contested match against Argentina, which ended in a 3-2 loss for his team in the World Cup Round of 16. Following the match, Hassan suggested that FIFA appeared to favor Lionel Messi and the defending champions to remain in the tournament, citing “support at every level” for Argentina during their remarkable comeback.
The game started with Egypt taking a surprising 2-0 lead, keeping control until the final minutes. However, Argentina turned the tide in a stunning 13-minute span, with goals from Cristian Romero, Messi, and Enzo Fernandez sealing their victory and securing a spot in the quarter-finals.
Hassan expressed his frustration, claiming that Egypt outplayed Argentina but faced obstacles that went beyond the game itself. “We were better than the champions. The result was affected by internal and external factors,” he stated.
In a particularly controversial moment, a goal by Egypt’s Mostafa Ziko was disallowed after a VAR review in the 59th minute, a decision Hassan believes shifted the game’s momentum. The Egyptian side was also upset about a potential penalty for a foul on Mohamed Salah that went unpunished, as well as another incident regarding a foul leading to Argentina’s late winner.
“Sometimes, it feels like there are pressures to favor Argentina. We were concerned about the referee’s selection due to Argentina’s prior victory over France in the last World Cup,” Hassan said. “We experienced unfairness; our second goal was not counted, and even the possible penalty was dismissed without review.”
Hassan, feeling disillusioned, declared, “I might say it was just bad luck, but we were treated unfairly. It was an injustice.” He later told beIN Sports that he confronted the referee about the fairness of the outcome, calling it an “undeserved victory” for Argentina.
Expressing his disappointment, Hassan remarked, “Once I’m back home, I won’t watch the World Cup again because there is no justice in this competition.” During the match, his frustrations were evident as he was booked after demonstrating against a refereeing decision.
Hassan’s comments are likely to draw attention from FIFA, which may review his statements and consider disciplinary action. His remarks have already sparked significant discussion among fans and analysts alike about the integrity of the tournament.
