Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan Accuses Argentina of Cheating

Egypt’s Near Miss and Controversial VAR Call

Coach Hossam Hassan denounced the result as unfair after his side fell 3‑2 to Argentina. Mostafa Zico gave Egypt a early lead, only to see the goal overturned when VAR intervened over a foul on Lisandro Martinez. The Pharaohs later pushed ahead when Zico struck again, putting them on the brink of the last eight for the first time in World Cup history. Despite controlling large portions of the game, Egypt were left to rue the VAR decision that erased their opening goal.

Argentina’s Comeback and Further Disputed Plays

Argentina staged a dramatic rescue act, trimming the deficit through Cristian Romero before Lionel Messi levelled with his eighth tournament goal. Messi had earlier seen a first‑half penalty saved, but his strike proved pivotal in the 3‑2 rally. The winning goal came from Enzo Fernandez, yet Egypt claim a penalty was missed on Hamdy Fathy when Alexis Mac Allister pulled his shirt. The late drama left the defending champions celebrating a hard‑fought victory.

Coach Hassan’s Outburst and Future Decision

In an explosive press conference, Hassan complained of a lack of respect and fair play, labeling the outcome a “cheat.” He highlighted two missed officiating moments: a disallowed penalty that VAR did not review and a second Egyptian goal that was overturned. The coach announced he would stop watching any further matches in this World Cup, calling it his way of speaking out against the perceived injustice. His comments have added fuel to an already heated debate about VAR consistency in the tournament.