Egypt’s Hassan and Zico suspended over FIFA World Cup refereeing criticism
FIFA punishes Egypt's head coach, forward and team manager for their comments after their World Cup loss to Argentina.
FIFA imposed suspensions on Egypt coach Hossam Hassan and forward Mostafa Zico following their criticism of the referee after Egypt's 3-2 loss to Argentina in the World Cup. The 60-year-old Hassan received a three-match ban, while Zico faced a five-match suspension. Hossam's twin brother, Egypt's national team director Ibrahim Hassan, also received a three-match ban.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) stated they requested detailed grounds for the decision from FIFA's Disciplinary Committee to evaluate their legal options and consider an appeal. Zico initially had a goal disallowed for a foul, and Egypt's players later protested a penalty near the end of the match when the score was tied at 2-2.
FIFA's refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina defended the officiating, stating that such allegations could lead to threats against referees and their families. The suspensions could affect Egypt's upcoming matches against Malawi in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying rounds in November and the first match of the March international window. Zico will be unavailable until June.
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