Ibrahim Hassan, the manager of the Egyptian national team, stressed his feeling of oppression and injustice after the match against Argentina.
Argentina qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup after defeating Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16.
Ibrahim said on MBC Egypt channel: "They broke our joy, we exited with honor but with oppression; if we had lost with honor, we would not have felt that sadness. From the beginning of the match, the decisions were against us. Sometimes in high balls, for example, the Argentine player pushes our player with his hands and the referee does not award anything and only threatens us, while on the contrary he shows us yellow cards".
He continued: "What happened was deliberate and premeditated injustice, not a coincidence. These people decided that the match must end in that manner. There was an official from the international federation present in the stands who celebrated Argentina's goal. Where is fair play, which is FIFA's slogan?".
He added: "Is it required that only specific teams be present in the picture? What about the teams that strive?".
He stressed: "Hamdi Fathy's shirt was torn from McAllister pulling it, and he has a penalty kick, and Mohamed Salah has a penalty kick. The goal disallowed against us was correct; the Argentine player tried to simulate and then got up quickly because he knows the foul did not exist".
He continued: "As African or Asian countries, we are helpless and cannot do anything. FIFA knows who should get the best player award even if he plays in a league that only three people follow".
He added: "Our second goal was a shock to all the officials, and the referee received an order contrary to what was happening in the match, and his reaction was unnatural. I am speaking while feeling oppressed; the referee should at least have used video technology".
He continued: "The referee was threatening Hossam Hassan while talking to him, and Hossam Hassan's gesture indicates injustice and is permitted under FIFA rules. The referee felt embarrassed by Hossam and therefore threatened him with expulsion. The Italian press made a film about the referee being French from the beginning, and what the referee did in the match, I do not know if it was by orders or of his own free will".
He added: "This is Messi and Argentina and the stars; it is normal, but you must fight and represent Egypt well and focus. You must believe that you can beat any team in the world. This is what we told the players before the tournament. Any team in the world consists of 11 players, but whoever has determination is the one who achieves victory".
He concluded: "I tell the Egyptian people that we did not fall short and we strived as much as possible. After every round in the tournament, we used to say that our goal is to pass the next round so that the next generation's ambition and goal would be further in the World Cup than what we reached".
Argentina will play in the quarter-finals against Switzerland, which defeated Colombia on penalties.
