World Cup 2026: Will Hossam Hassam be sanctioned for gesture in Egypt defeat to Argentina?

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan could face scrutiny from FIFA following a controversial touchline gesture made during his side’s dramatic 3-2 defeat by Argentina in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to British newspaper The Sun, FIFA may review Hassan’s actions after he crossed his arms in an “X” shape during the match following a verbal exchange with Argentina captain Lionel Messi.

The report said the gesture, which is commonly associated with reporting incidents of racism, could be examined by FIFA’s disciplinary committee because the circumstances surrounding its use remain unclear.

Conflicting explanations over the gesture

The report differs from comments made by Egypt team director Ibrahim Hassan, who defended his brother’s actions and insisted the signal was used in accordance with FIFA guidance.

Speaking to MBC Egypt, Ibrahim Hassan said: “There are instructions from FIFA in the locker rooms that this gesture is used when you want to express that you have been wronged.”

He added: “The referee didn’t know how to deal with Hossam. Should he abide by FIFA’s instructions, especially since it was a permitted gesture, or should he show the resentment inside him and expel him?”

Fallout continues after controversial defeat

The latest development comes amid continuing debate over the officiating in Egypt’s World Cup elimination, a match that has prompted strong criticism from the Egyptian camp.

After the final whistle, Hossam Hassan accused the officials of treating his side unfairly and questioned the handling of several key incidents.

“If they wanted Argentina to win the World Cup, why did they invite the other teams to participate?”

The Egyptian Football Association has since submitted an official protest to FIFA, requesting an investigation into the refereeing and calling for French referee Francois Letexier and his officiating team to be removed from the remainder of the tournament.

The federation argued that several crucial decisions, including the handling of VAR reviews, directly influenced the outcome of the match.

Egypt also questioned the disallowing of a goal for an earlier foul in the build-up and claimed the team should have been awarded two penalties before Argentina scored the decisive goal, incidents that continue to fuel debate over one of the tournament’s most controversial matches.

At this stage, FIFA has not announced whether disciplinary proceedings will be opened against Hassan.