FIFA Suspends Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan, Twin Brother Ibrahim and Forward Zico

FIFA has suspended Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan for three matches, his twin brother and national team director Ibrahim Hassan for three matches and forward Mostafa Zico for five matches following their criticism of the refereeing after Egypt’s dramatic defeat to Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the sanctions on Monday, October 19, saying it had requested detailed explanations from FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee. The federation said it would review the reasons behind the decisions before determining whether to appeal.

The disciplinary action follows Egypt’s 3–2 defeat to Argentina in the round of 16, after the Pharaohs had taken a two-goal lead. The match, played in Atlanta in July, ended Egypt’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

Hossam Hassan strongly criticised the match officials after the game, claiming that Egypt had been treated unfairly. The controversy centred on a goal by Zico that was disallowed following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, as well as a late Egyptian penalty appeal that was rejected.

Zico was also sanctioned over his post-match comments about the referee. FIFA’s refereeing chief, Pierluigi Collina, defended the officiating and warned that accusations against match officials could expose referees and their families to threats.

The suspensions could affect Egypt’s preparations for upcoming international fixtures. Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan could miss the team’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Malawi in November and a further fixture during the March international window. Zico’s five-match ban is expected to keep him out until June, potentially affecting several qualifying matches.

The EFA is awaiting FIFA’s detailed reasoning before deciding on its next move. Any appeal would depend on the federation’s assessment of the disciplinary decisions and the regulations governing the case. The sanctions have added another chapter to the controversy surrounding Egypt’s World Cup exit, with the federation now weighing its options while the team prepares for its upcoming competitive matches.