Egypt Coach Uses New FIFA Anti-Racism Signal During World Cup Match

In a dramatic World Cup 2026 match, Argentina overturned a 2-0 deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 in stoppage time, with goals from Lautaro Romero, Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernandez securing the comeback. Egypt, who initially led with goals from Ibrahim and Ziko, were eliminated in a heartbreaking fashion. During the tense final minutes, Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan was seen making an X sign with his hands towards the referee. Contrary to popular belief that it was a protest against a disallowed Egyptian goal or an allowed Argentine goal, Hassan was actually attempting to alert officials to a racist incident on the field. This gesture is part of a new FIFA rule introduced at the 2026 World Cup as part of the organization's "No to Racism" campaign. According to the rule, referees can initiate a three-step process after such a signal: stopping the game, suspending it for 15 minutes, or canceling it entirely if racist behavior continues. It remains unclear whether the referee acknowledged Hassan's signal during the match. The new regulation was implemented following several high-profile racism incidents in football, including a notable case involving Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestiani in a Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica.