‘It wasn’t racism’: Egypt boss finally breaks silence on viral ‘X’ gesture and claims Messi was left in tears | Football News
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has spoken out after his controversial “X” gesture during his side’s dramatic 3-2 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 defeat to Argentina sparked widespread debate. The moment, directed towards referee François Letexier in stoppage time, quickly drew attention because it resembled UEFA’s official anti-racism reporting protocol used by players and staff to signal discriminatory abuse. With tensions high following a chaotic finish and a series of disputed decisions, the gesture became one of the most talked-about incidents of the match, prompting questions about its meaning and intent.
Hassan says gesture was aimed at the referee, not an allegation of racism
The flashpoint came in the closing stages of Egypt’s Round of 16 defeat after Argentina completed a remarkable comeback from two goals down.With emotions running high, television cameras captured Hassan crossing his forearms into an “X” shape while directing his frustration towards referee François Letexier. His twin brother and assistant coach, Ibrahim Hassan, immediately lowered his arms before the Egypt manager was shown a yellow card.Because the gesture has been used in professional football to report alleged racist abuse, including during Benfica’s Champions League meeting with Real Madrid earlier this year, it quickly led to speculation over its intended meaning.Speaking after the tournament, however, Hassan firmly rejected that interpretation.“The gesture wasn’t racist,” Hassan said, as quoted by The Sun.“I was telling [the referee], ‘you’re not being fair’.”
Hassan reveals exchange with Lionel Messi
Hassan also shed light on his confrontation with Lionel Messi during the closing moments of the match.According to the Egypt coach, Messi questioned him immediately after the incident as tensions escalated on the touchline.“[Messi] came up to me and said, ‘why?’ Why? Why?’ And I don’t know what else,” Hassan said.“It was one of the few times Messi got into arguments during a match. And he ended up crying because he was having a hard time emotionally.“We were a very tough team and we put them in a difficult position. I tried not to respond to him and to avoid any verbal friction between us, out of respect for his career.”The emotionally charged contest saw Argentina overturn a 2-0 deficit through goals from Cristian Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernández during a frantic 13-minute spell to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Egypt maintained officiating cost them the match
Despite clarifying the meaning of his gesture, Hassan has not softened his criticism of the officiating.Egypt believed they were denied several crucial decisions during the match, including the disallowing of Mostafa Ziko’s goal and what they felt was an unpunished foul on Mohamed Salah in the build-up to Enzo Fernández’s dramatic winner.Immediately after the defeat, Hassan suggested external pressure had influenced the officials.“We haven’t seen respect or fair play,” he said.“There seems to have been pressure on the Argentinian side on the referee that has brought about this outcome.“Life is unfair. The world is unfair. OK, but why isn’t there any fairness in sports?“I’m not convinced by this outcome and by the way things unfolded in this match.“The referee is unfair, God is sufficient for me and the best disposer of affairs.“He’s wasting the effort of an entire nation. The cup is directed towards Argentina.”The Egyptian Football Association later issued its own strongly worded statement, calling for FIFA to investigate what it described as “blatant errors” by the officiating team and demanding the removal of referee Letexier and his crew from the remainder of the tournament.
FIFA responded as disciplinary uncertainty remains
The accusations prompted a response from FIFA through Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina, who defended the integrity of the officials and dismissed suggestions that Argentina had received favourable treatment.Although Hassan has not yet faced disciplinary action over either his touchline behaviour or his post-match remarks, the matter has not been fully closed.According to The Athletic, FIFA intends to review potential disciplinary cases after the conclusion of the World Cup, following the same approach it adopted after the 2022 tournament.Hassan and Egypt forward Mostafa Ziko are among those who could still face sanctions for comments deemed to have brought the game into disrepute, while other figures, including Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji and England manager Thomas Tuchel, have also publicly criticised refereeing standards during the tournament.Hassan’s latest explanation, however, removes one aspect of the controversy. While Egypt continue to dispute the officiating that accompanied their heartbreaking elimination, the veteran coach insists the gesture that generated worldwide debate was never intended as an allegation of racism but rather a protest against what he believed was an unfair performance from the referee.
