Egypt manager Hossam Hassan vows to boycott World Cup after Argentina match injustice

Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan announced on Saturday that he will not watch any further matches in the World Cup, expressing his outrage over what he perceives as a significant injustice during his team's match against Argentina. Egypt was leading 2-0 when a controversial disallowed goal and a late comeback from Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, turned the tide of the game.

Egypt's Controversial Match Against Argentina

During the match, Egypt took an early lead with a goal from Yasser Ibrahim. Subsequently, a second goal from Mostafa Ziko was disallowed due to a foul in the buildup. Ziko later scored again, putting Egypt ahead 2-0, but Argentina responded with goals from Cristian Romero and Messi, the latter scoring his eighth goal of the tournament.

Hassan criticized the officiating of French referee François Letexier, particularly regarding a failure to award a foul before the winning goal by Enzo Fernández. He stated, “It’s all about money. They want Messi to stay in the tournament. In football, many things happen off the pitch because of interests. What happened was unfair. Egypt deserved to qualify. We were the better team.”

Reflections from Players and Coaches

Ziko also expressed frustration, saying, “After we made it 2-0, everything went against us. I don’t know why this second goal was disallowed.” The emotional strain of the match was evident, as Argentina’s manager Lionel Scaloni paused his post-match interview due to tears, praising Messi's determination and skill.

Scaloni noted, “Messi missed a penalty but he asks for the ball again and he drives, again and again. I get goosebumps, to be honest. This is who we are, as Argentinians. We play our hearts out.”

The Aftermath of the Match

Hassan, Egypt's all-time leading scorer, emphasized the need for fairness in sports, stating, “I do not want to try to put it nicely here with beautiful wording. We have been treated unfairly today. We have suffered injustice.” His decision to boycott the tournament reflects his deep frustration with the officiating and perceived biases affecting the outcome.

As the World Cup continues, the fallout from this match raises questions about officiating standards and the integrity of the tournament. The impact of financial interests in sports is a growing concern among teams and fans alike.