Playing with an open hand

The crisis involving the Egyptian national team and Hossam El-Hadary divided those interested in sports affairs into two camps: one supports the "Al-Amid" (the Colonel) and pledges allegiance to him as a permanent technical director, while the other cannot even bear to hear his name. However, this is not the real issue, for Hossam El-Hadary will remain in his position even if he loses against South Sudan—a scenario that was virtually impossible, given that you could defeat that South Sudanese team with an amateur squad from any street in Cairo.

But what the recent crisis did was expose everything in Egyptian sports media. I have seen media figures showing absolute support for Hossam El-Hadary in all matters, defending him desperately even when he is wrong. It reached the point where one of them deliberately ignored Hossam's remarks describing Egypt's goalkeeper of the past eight years as "finished," nor did they address the statement issued by the Football Association itself, on the lips of Hany Abo Rida later, in response to the national team coach. This should have been the headline event for any daily sports program covering football in Egypt, especially during an international break period where there are no news items other than those concerning the national team.

On the other hand, some media figures emerged demanding the immediate dismissal of Hossam El-Hadary from coaching the Egyptian national team, forgetting his achievement in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which no one can deny. Yet, they displayed deep-seated hatred towards Hossam El-Hadary's personality, whom, incidentally, I do not like for his actions or his general manner of dealing with people, not just players, because it seems he suffers from something that only doctors can diagnose.

As for journalists, particularly those famous on social media, the situation is beyond description. The subject of the crisis himself, Mohamed El-Shenawy, did not speak out or show any reaction to the insult he received from the coach of his country's national team. Al-Ahly Club took it upon itself to defend him with a protest statement and extending his contract. Nevertheless, these journalists competed to reveal what they call the "secrets" of previous national team camps—which have now surfaced solely to smear the image of specific players—and dug up every flaw of the man, merely to support Hossam El-Hadary and cover up his error in describing a player of El-Shenawy's caliber as "finished" and stating that the Egyptian league does not produce quality football.

There are also journalists who adhered to professionalism, carrying out their work with full transparency, neither out of love nor hate for anyone, nor for personal interests. These deserve all respect. I know them personally; even those among them who criticized one side made it clear through their words that they were criticizing sincerely and with understandable motives, having no personal interests with any coach, player, or other party involved in the crisis.

I myself have begun to identify by name those who support Hossam El-Hadary absolutely due to personal or "family" interests, or out of hatred for other parties, versus those who support him because they love him as a player with history and believe he is the most suitable to coach the national team and appreciate his World Cup qualification achievement. I also recognize those who hate him and wish for his failure for personal reasons such as jealousy, malice, and envy. Furthermore, I have come to understand those who criticize in good faith to rectify matters, for the game has become fully exposed.