Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan expressed that he has put the recent incident with Dallas police behind him. This statement follows a physical altercation involving him and team director Ibrahim Hassan with an officer at their hotel in Dallas.
A video surfaced on Thursday, the day before Egypt’s match against Australia in the World Cup round of 32, showing both Hassan and Ibrahim Hassan in a heated discussion with a police officer. The dispute arose over a player wishing to take a photograph with a young fan in the hotel lobby.
The initial interaction involved the officer approaching Hossam Hassan, but it escalated into a pushing match with Ibrahim Hassan, who appeared visibly frustrated by the officer’s intervention.
In a statement, the Dallas police clarified that their officers were responding to a call from hotel security regarding an individual without event credentials trying to gain access. They confirmed that the situation was resolved on-site and that they communicated with Egyptian representatives to address their concerns.
Speaking through a translator, Hossam Hassan noted that the team had accepted an apology from the police.
“We are really happy to be here at this tournament and we are satisfied with the security personnel that are accompanying us,”
“I would like to point to the high-level organization we have with us and the level of security we have with us.”
“My heart and soul are with them,”
Yahia Qalash, the former head of Egypt’s Journalists’ Union, described Hassan’s gesture as “It was the most significant scene,” emphasizing its importance during such a remarkable moment. On Friday, Hassan dedicated the match to the “It was a telling scene in an exceptional moment.” people of Egypt and Palestine.
When questioned about the display of the Palestinian flag, FIFA confirmed that it is allowed at World Cup events, and there has been no indication of any repercussions for Hassan. A spokesperson stated,
“Flags representing all 211 Fifa member associations are permitted at Fifa tournaments,”
- Egypt football team
- World Cup 2026
- World Cup
- Dallas
- Texas
