Egypt Coach Denies Racism Gesture, Criticizes Referee After World Cup Loss to Argentina

During the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match between Egypt and Argentina, Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan was seen making an 'X' hand signal toward the referee, a gesture introduced by FIFA's anti-racism campaign to report racist incidents on the field. However, Hassan later clarified in an interview that his gesture was not related to racism but was meant to accuse the referee of unfair officiating. He pointed out that after the gesture, he indicated a specific Argentine player to the referee, but the referee did not respond to the signal.

The match was dramatic, with Argentina overturning a 2-0 deficit in the 79th minute to win 3-2 in stoppage time, narrowly avoiding elimination. Hassan described a tense exchange with Lionel Messi, who confronted him asking "Why? Why? Why?" during the game. Hassan noted that Messi was emotionally affected and ended up crying, highlighting the emotional intensity of the match. Hassan emphasized that his team was tough and challenged Argentina significantly.

FIFA's new protocol for the 'X' signal involves a three-step process: a warning announcement, a 15-minute suspension, and potentially ending the match if racist behavior continues. This measure was introduced following several high-profile racism incidents in football, including one involving Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestiani in a Champions League match. Despite the gesture's intended purpose, Hassan's explanation clarified the misunderstanding about its use in this match.

The incident underlines ongoing efforts by FIFA to combat racism in football, while also illustrating the high tensions and emotions present in World Cup knockout games.