Egypt FA submits FIFA defence over World Cup incidents involving Argentina

The Egyptian Football Association has submitted its legal responses to FIFA regarding statements and incidents involving Egypt manager Hossam Hassan, team director Ibrahim Hassan and player Mostafa Ziko during and around their 2026 World Cup meeting with Argentina.

The association said its submission was made one day before the deadline set by FIFA, which has opened disciplinary proceedings against the three members of the Egypt squad and coaching staff.

In a statement, the Egyptian Football Association said it had completed “all the required explanations and legal responses” to FIFA concerning the comments and events connected with the match.

It added that the response provided a full account of the circumstances surrounding the incidents during Egypt’s World Cup match against Argentina, supported by the necessary documents and legal arguments.

The association also stressed its respect for FIFA’s regulations and procedures, while saying it was committed to defending the rights of its technical staff and players through official channels. It said it retained all of its rights before the relevant FIFA bodies.

The proceedings relate to comments attributed to Hossam Hassan before and after the match, as well as the conduct of Ibrahim Hassan and Mostafa Ziko.

A source from the Egyptian Football Association previously told FilGoal.com that the report received by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee concerning alleged violations by Hossam Hassan included several points.

According to the source, Hassan made comments of a “non-sporting nature” during the pre-match news conference, including expressing his support for Palestine and his desire to see it liberated.

The source also said the report claimed Hassan had suggested after the match that Argentina had been given preferential treatment in the race to qualify at the World Cup for marketing reasons, because they were former world champions, and that Egypt had been treated unfairly.

The source added: “The report stated that Hossam Hassan said there was no justice in the tournament, that external factors had improperly influenced the match, and that the principles of fair play promoted by FIFA were absent from the game.”

The Egyptian Football Association has separately issued a statement supporting Hossam Hassan, Ibrahim Hassan and Mostafa Ziko, and defending the rights of Egyptian football.

The last-16 tie between Egypt and Argentina was marked by protests from the Egyptian team over refereeing decisions during the match.

Ziko said after the game: “The referee was unfair, he wasted the efforts of the team and the tournament was directed.”

Hossam Hassan also confronted the referee during the match and made a gesture described in the source article as an anti-racism sign.

Egypt were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the last 16 after losing 3-2 to Argentina.