FIFA Suspends Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan and Forward Mostafa Zico
FIFA has suspended Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan for three matches and forward Mostafa Zico for five matches after both men criticised the referee following Egypt’s 3-2 defeat by Argentina at the FIFA World Cup. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the sanctions on Monday, October 19.
Ibrahim Hassan, Hossam’s twin brother and Egypt’s national team director, has also been suspended for three matches.
The 60-year-old coach was sanctioned after blaming refereeing errors for Egypt’s elimination from the tournament in the last 16. Zico was punished for insulting the referee in a post-match interview.
The EFA said it has asked FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee for the detailed grounds behind the decision so that it can assess its legal options and decide whether to appeal.
FIFA Suspends Hossam Hassan, Ibrahim Hassan and Mostafa Zico
The sanctions affect three members of Egypt’s national team set-up: the head coach, the national team director and one of the team’s forwards.
In a statement, the EFA confirmed the length of each ban: “The decisions include the suspension of Hossam Hassan and Ibrahim Hassan for three matches each, while Zico has been suspended for five matches.”
The suspensions were issued by FIFA after the comments made by Egyptian officials and players following the defeat by Argentina. The full written reasons have not yet been published, which is why the EFA has formally requested them from FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee.
What Happened in Egypt’s 3-2 Defeat by Argentina?
Egypt were knocked out of the World Cup in the last 16 after a 3-2 defeat by Argentina. Two refereeing decisions became the focus of Egypt’s complaints after the match.
Zico had a goal ruled out because of a foul in the build-up to the score. Later, with the match level at 2-2, Egypt’s players appealed for a penalty near the end of the game, but it was not awarded. Argentina went on to win 3-2.
After the match, Hossam Hassan blamed refereeing errors for Egypt’s exit, while Zico insulted the referee during a post-match interview. Those comments led to the disciplinary action now announced by the EFA.
Why Were Hossam Hassan and Mostafa Zico Suspended?
The bans relate to the public criticism of the match officials after the defeat by Argentina, not to incidents during play.
Hossam Hassan’s sanction followed his comments blaming refereeing errors for Egypt’s elimination. Zico received the longest ban of the three, five matches, after insulting the referee in his post-match interview.
FIFA’s disciplinary rules allow it to sanction players and officials for conduct directed at match officials. The detailed findings in this case will become clearer once FIFA provides the grounds requested by the EFA.
Pierluigi Collina Defends the Referee
FIFA’s refereeing chief, Pierluigi Collina, defended the officiating in the Egypt-Argentina match.
Collina warned that allegations of the kind made after the game could provoke threats against referees and their families. His comments reflect a wider concern in football about the abuse match officials can receive after high-profile decisions.
Will Egypt Appeal the FIFA Suspensions?
Egypt have not yet confirmed an appeal. The EFA said it had asked FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee for the detailed grounds behind the decision so that it could study its legal options.
Once those reasons are received, the federation will decide whether to challenge the suspensions. Until then, the bans stand as announced.
Which Matches Will Hossam Hassan and Zico Miss?
The suspensions could have a direct impact on Egypt’s next international fixtures.
- Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan: The three-match bans could rule both men out of Egypt’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi in November, as well as the first match of the March international window.
- Mostafa Zico: The forward’s five-match suspension means he will be unavailable until June.
The Malawi fixtures add local interest to the story. Readers can follow the build-up to the qualifiers on Newsaih’s Malawi news page.
In another international disciplinary case this week, Cristiano Ronaldo was fined €255 and suspended for 30 days by the Portuguese Football Federation after leaving the national team’s training camp.
What Happens Next for Egypt?
Egypt now face the prospect of preparing for important Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers without their head coach and national team director on the touchline.
Several developments will shape what happens next:
- FIFA’s written grounds: The EFA is waiting for the detailed reasons behind the decision.
- A possible appeal: The federation will decide whether to challenge the bans once it has reviewed FIFA’s findings.
- Matchday arrangements: If the bans stand, Egypt will need to confirm who leads the team from the bench against Malawi.
Newsaih will continue to follow developments on the suspensions and Egypt’s qualifying campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did FIFA suspend Egypt coach Hossam Hassan?
Hossam Hassan was suspended after he blamed refereeing errors for Egypt’s last-16 elimination following the 3-2 defeat by Argentina at the World Cup.
How long is Hossam Hassan’s suspension?
Hossam Hassan has been suspended for three matches.
Why was Mostafa Zico suspended?
Zico was suspended for insulting the referee in a post-match interview after Egypt’s defeat by Argentina.
How many matches will Mostafa Zico miss?
Zico has been suspended for five matches and will be unavailable until June.
Who is Ibrahim Hassan?
Ibrahim Hassan is Hossam Hassan’s twin brother and Egypt’s national team director. He has also been suspended for three matches.
What was the score in Egypt vs Argentina?
Argentina beat Egypt 3-2 in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup.
Will Hossam Hassan miss Egypt’s matches against Malawi?
The suspension could rule Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan out of Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi in November, as well as the first match of the March international window.
Will Egypt appeal the FIFA suspensions?
The EFA has requested the detailed grounds for the decision from FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee and will then decide whether to appeal.
What did Pierluigi Collina say about the match?
FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina defended the officiating and warned that such allegations could provoke threats against referees and their families.
Conclusion
FIFA has suspended Egypt coach Hossam Hassan and national team director Ibrahim Hassan for three matches each, and forward Mostafa Zico for five matches, after they criticised the referee following Egypt’s 3-2 World Cup defeat by Argentina.
The bans could keep the Hassan brothers away from Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi in November, while Zico will be unavailable until June.
The EFA is waiting for FIFA’s detailed reasons before deciding whether to appeal. Newsaih will report further updates as they become available.
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Editorial note: This article is based on the Egyptian Football Association’s statement and publicly reported comments. The exact competitions covered by the suspensions and the outcome of any appeal had not been confirmed at the time of writing.
