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Did the dean downplay the “racist backlash”?
The confrontation between Egypt and Argentina did not end with the referee’s whistle. Hossam Hassan’s single gesture sparked a fresh confrontation between Cairo and Buenos Aires, as an Argentine newspaper accused the Egyptian coach of repeating the gesture in front of fans, downplaying its significance.
After a historic trip that was highly praised, the Pharaohs returned to their homeland, where they were awaited by an exclusive public and official reception at El Alamein Airport, celebrating the heroic performance of the players and technical staff that left an immortal mark in the history of Egyptian football.
Youth and Sports Minister Gawhar Nabil and Club Association President Ahmed Diab were in the front row to welcome the Egyptian national team delegation as it landed at New Alamein Airport.
A newspaper pointed outOleArgentina have highlighted what they described as a “racist gesture” by Egypt coach Hossam Hassan during their 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match against Argentina in Atlanta, which ended with the Pharaohs being destroyed after Enzo Fernandez’s goal.
According to the newspaper, the contradictions did not stop during the meeting. At a packed reception for Mohamed Salah’s Egyptian national team in New El Alamein, a large number of fans imitated the same gesture as a “symbolic protest against refereeing” led by Frenchman Letzer.
The surprise that “Ole” noticed was in the behavior of Hossam Hasan, as the newspaper stated that the coach “underestimated the significance of the gesture” when he repeated it in front of the fans while greeting them, instead of apologizing or denying any offensive intent.
The newspaper considered that repeating the gesture turned it from a “momentary reaction” into a declared position, emphasizing that the decisions of the French referee during the confrontation with the Pharaohs were correct.
“Ole” confirmed in its report that “the coach and a number of fans repeated the racist gesture”, noting that the campaign initiated by Hossam Hassan’s daughter increased the intensity of the controversy. On the other hand, a section of the Egyptian street believes that the gesture was an expression of anger towards the refereeing decisions and that the coach’s downplaying of it is intended to remove its offensive nature.
Dean is thinking of you #Mondial_wth_rm3sports #Encourage_Egypt #World Cup #FIFAWORLDCUP #egypt pic.twitter.com/msSCbmzR6i
— RM3Sports (@RM3Sports) July 10, 2026
