Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan Launches Furious Accusation Against FIFA, Claiming World Cup Is Rigged to Favor Messi and Argentina

Egypt national team manager Hossam Hassan has unleashed a scathing attack on FIFA, accusing the world governing body of manipulating the World Cup to keep Lionel Messi and Argentina in the competition for marketing purposes. His explosive comments came after a series of highly controversial refereeing decisions that he believes cost his team a place in the quarter-finals during a dramatic Round of 16 clash in Atlanta on Tuesday.

Argentina staged an incredible comeback, overturning a 2-0 deficit with just 12 minutes remaining plus stoppage time. Goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernandez secured a thrilling 3-2 victory for the defending champions, sending them through to the last eight while eliminating Egypt in heartbreaking fashion.

The decisive moment arrived in the 93rd minute when Fernandez powered home a header to complete the turnaround. Chaos immediately erupted on the Egyptian bench as staff confronted referee Francois Letexier. Goalkeeper coach Saafan El-Sagheer received a red card, and Hassan himself had to be physically pulled away from an angry confrontation with the official.

Egypt’s players and coaching staff were particularly incensed that neither the referee nor the VAR team awarded them a clear penalty just moments before Argentina’s winner. Mohamed Salah appeared to be clipped inside the box by Julian Alvarez, but the decision went against the Pharaohs.

Earlier in the second half, Egypt had a goal ruled out by VAR due to a foul in the build-up play. Throughout the match, the team felt multiple calls favored Argentina, who advanced to the quarter-finals as they attempt to defend their World Cup title on North American soil.

In his post-match interview, Hassan could barely contain his frustration. He openly suggested that FIFA was rigging the tournament to prolong Messi’s participation for commercial reasons. “We were better, but football is unfair,” the devastated coach said.

He continued, “It could be a matter of marketing. They could want to make a World Cup with the champion of the last World Cup. They want Messi to exist in the tournament.”

Hassan praised his players for their effort and extended thanks to Egyptian, Arab, and African supporters. “You can work hard, it’s what you have to do, but sometimes there are other factors that make you struggle,” he added. He encouraged his team to feel upset about the loss rather than accept it quietly, acknowledging the difficulty of competing against the world champions under such circumstances.

The experienced manager went further, claiming there is significant “support from all directions for the world champions — support and marketing.” He questioned the lack of fairness in football, refusing to soften his words. “I do not want to try to put it nicely here with beautiful wording. We have been treated unfairly today. We have suffered injustice.”

Hassan also revealed that Egypt had raised objections to the appointment of French referee Francois Letexier before the match. He suggested that both internal and external influences affected the outcome.

During the dramatic touchline incident following Fernandez’s winner, Hassan made a gesture crossing his hands above his head — a signal often associated with highlighting racism or serious injustice. It remains unclear whether he was protesting a specific incident or expressing broader discontent with the officiating.

The match itself was a rollercoaster. Yasser Ibrahim gave Egypt a shock lead after just 15 minutes, and Mostafa Ziko doubled the advantage in the second half. However, Argentina’s late resurgence, fueled by Messi’s brilliance, turned the game on its head.

Ziko, visibly emotional in his post-match interview, echoed his manager’s sentiments by labeling the referee “unjust.” Fighting back tears, he said, “Referee, not fair. Unjust, unjust referee. An injustice that is so clear. He’s wasting the effort of an entire nation.”

Ziko went as far as congratulating Argentina on already winning the tournament. “Since the beginning of the game, we were leaving the game winning 2-0 against Argentina. But the cup has already been given,” he claimed. “Congratulations to Argentina on the World Cup. You don’t need anything else.”

The controversy has intensified scrutiny on FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino. Infantino has faced previous criticism after agreeing to suspend USA forward Folarin Balogun’s red card following a reported conversation with Donald Trump. His close relationship with Trump, including awarding the president FIFA’s inaugural peace prize in 2025, has raised eyebrows among fans.

Shortly after Egypt’s elimination, Infantino was seen waving an Egyptian flag in Vancouver ahead of Switzerland’s match against Colombia, possibly in an attempt to counter accusations of bias toward Argentina.

Despite the strong allegations circulating online, it is important to emphasize that no concrete evidence has surfaced to support claims of corruption or match-fixing involving FIFA or Infantino.

Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, continues his farewell tour of international football. After leading Argentina to glory in Qatar in 2022, the veteran now plays in Major League Soccer for Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham. His continued presence in the tournament generates massive global interest and commercial value.

Further fueling conspiracy theories, FIFA announced that all officials for France’s quarter-final against Morocco would be Argentinian — the first time in the tournament that an entire refereeing team comes from one nation. Additionally, statistics show Argentina have been awarded eight penalties in their last 12 World Cup matches, with spot-kicks playing a key role in their success.

Egypt’s star forward Mohamed Salah looked devastated as he returned to the team hotel after the defeat, symbolizing the deep disappointment felt across the country.

As Argentina prepares to face either Switzerland or Colombia in the quarter-finals — with a potential semi-final against England looming if Harry Kane’s side defeats Norway — the debate over officiating and fairness continues to dominate discussions.

Hassan’s outspoken criticism reflects the raw emotion following a match many Egyptians felt was taken from them. While passionate, his comments highlight ongoing tensions regarding the balance between sporting integrity and commercial interests in modern football.

The Pharaohs’ campaign ends with heads held high for their competitive performance, but the bitterness over perceived injustices will likely linger. As the World Cup progresses, questions about refereeing standards, VAR consistency, and the influence of star power on decision-making remain at the forefront of global football conversation.