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Is he right?
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin has denied accusations by his Egyptian counterpart Hossam Hassan that Argentina are taking advantage of arbitration courtesy and FIFA’s support at the 2026 World Cup, stressing that games are decided in the green rectangle and not by media announcements.
At a news conference on Friday ahead of their quarter-final meeting with Argentina, Yakin strongly criticized comments by Hossam Hassan, who accused FIFA of siding with Argentina and forcing Lionel Messi to win the title amid widespread refereeing controversy following Egypt’s 3-2 loss in the last 16.
In response to the question about the statements of the Egyptian coach, Yakin said: “I think the games are generally played fairly. Video surveillance technology can intervene and control everything,” he added.
Referring to Egypt’s 2-0 lead until the final minutes of the match before the result was overturned, Yakin stressed: “When the game can be decided on the field, excuses or insults after the game have nothing to do with fairness. Issues should be resolved on the pitch.”
Yaquin’s comments come as Switzerland prepare to face defending champions Argentina in the quarter-finals in Kansas City at dawn on Sunday, amid a painful blow that featured the absence of the team’s top scorer Johan Manzambi with a knee injury.
Yakin announced that Manzambi, who scored three goals and provided two assists in the tournament, would not be able to take part in the match despite intense efforts to bring him back, saying:
Yakin pointed out that Switzerland’s strategy to limit Messi’s influence hinged on possession, saying: “When we have the ball, he won’t be able to move much. We try to play our usual style and don’t let him pass the ball.”
