FIFA has handed Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan and his brother Ibrahim three-match suspensions, while forward Mostafa Ziko has received a five-game ban following incidents during the Pharaohs’ controversial FIFA World Cup clash with Argentina.
The disciplinary action adds a new chapter to the fallout from Egypt’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to the defending champions, a match that sparked fierce criticism from Hassan over the officiating and left the Egyptian coach questioning the fairness of the tournament.
The Egyptian Football Association is seeking an explanation from FIFA before deciding whether to appeal the sanctions, with the suspensions potentially affecting Egypt’s preparations for their upcoming international fixtures.
FIFA has handed Egypt coach Hossam Hassan and Ibrahim Hassan three-match suspensions, while Mostafa Ziko received a five-game ban following incidents during the World Cup clash with Argentina. Photocredit: Getty Images
If the appeals process does not overturn the decisions, Hossam Hassan and Ibrahim Hassan will miss Egypt’s two matches against Malawi in November 2026 and their encounter with Angola in March 2027.
Ziko, meanwhile, faces a longer spell on the sidelines. The five-match suspension would rule him out of the two fixtures against Malawi and the matches against Angola and South Sudan in March 2027.
His fifth match of suspension would apply to Egypt’s first fixture in whichever competition comes next, either the World Cup qualifiers or the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mostafa Ziko received a five-game ban following incidents during the World Cup clash with Argentina. Photocredit: Getty Images
The sanctions follow a turbulent period for Hossam Hassan, whose reaction to Egypt’s World Cup elimination attracted widespread attention after the Pharaohs surrendered a two-goal advantage in their 3-2 defeat to Argentina.
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Hassan accused the match officials of treating Egypt unfairly, questioned key decisions and alleged that pressure had been exerted on the referee before kickoff.
He also declared that he would not watch another match at the tournament, arguing that there was no justice in the competition.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan renewed his criticism of Argentina after Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, claiming “football won” and alleging La Roja overcame questionable officiating to lift the trophy. Photocredit: Getty Images
Despite his anger over the result, the Egypt coach repeatedly praised his players for challenging Argentina with a squad made up predominantly of footballers from the Egyptian league. He maintained that their performance had earned the country respect, even though their World Cup campaign ended in disappointment.
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Hassan later renewed his criticism after Spain defeated Argentina in the final, claiming that Spain had overcome what he regarded as questionable officiating to win the title.
FIFA’s sanctions now shift the focus from Hassan’s public criticism to the potential consequences for Egypt’s technical staff and squad. However, with the Egyptian FA still seeking clarification, the final position on an appeal remains undecided.
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