During Egypt’s Round of 16 match against Argentina, Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan raised both arms and crossed them into an “X” as he protested during the game. To many familiar with FIFA’s evolving regulations, the gesture carried a specific and serious meaning. Hassan was not disputing an officiating decision. He was signaling that his team was being subjected to racist abuse.
FIFA introduced the “X” signal in 2024 as part of its anti-racism protocol, allowing players and coaches to alert match officials to racist behavior by opponents, referees or spectators.
This year’s World Cup has already seen the first dismissal under FIFA’s new anti-racism rules. Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón became the first player sent off under the protocol after video review showed him covering his mouth while speaking to an opposing player, conduct prohibited under the regulations because it can conceal racist or discriminatory remarks on the field. It marked the first time a referee had shown a red card under FIFA’s anti-racism framework.
What Happened During Egypt vs. Argentina?
Sports journalist Ibrahim Desouki told Alhurra that Hassan’s protest had nothing to do with the referee’s performance or the flow of the match. Instead, it came after he was informed of racist chants from a section of Argentina’s supporters.
Once the chants were translated for him, Hassan immediately turned toward the referee and made the “X” gesture.
According to Desouki, the chant translated into Arabic as, “Beat those monkeys,” a racist slur directed at Egypt’s players.
He argued that the French referee’s response fell short of what the situation required. Rather than asking Hassan why he had made the anti-racism signal, the referee instead cautioned the Egyptian coach with a yellow card.
What Could the Referee Have Done?
Under FIFA’s anti-racism protocol, Desouki said, referees have three escalating options.
They may first suspend play temporarily while stadium announcements and giant-screen messages instruct supporters to stop racist behavior.
If the abuse continues, the referee can halt the match and send both teams to the dressing rooms while security officials address the situation.
Should the incidents persist after play resumes, the referee has the authority to abandon the match altogether and refer the case to FIFA’s disciplinary bodies.
Desouki noted that isolated racist chants are difficult to detect in stadiums holding 60,000 or 70,000 spectators. But when coordinated chants are adopted by large sections of a fan base and carry a racist message, FIFA intervention becomes necessary.
A Wider Controversy
Egypt’s loss to Argentina generated widespread debate over the officiating after the Egyptians surrendered a two-goal lead they had held for 80 minutes.
The match also featured two other incidents that some observers viewed through the lens of discrimination.
The first involved security screening at the stadium. Videos circulated online appeared to show Egyptian fans being searched before entering the venue while Argentine supporters were allowed through without similar checks.
The footage angered many Egyptians, who described the treatment as discriminatory.
The second incident involved popular online streamer IShowSpeed, who was reportedly subjected to racist abuse inside the stadium.
It was not the first time Argentine supporters had been accused of targeting him. During Argentina’s earlier match against Libya, he was also subjected to abusive chants, prompting FIFA to open an investigation.
An Isolated Incident or a Broader Pattern?
For many observers, Hassan’s “X” gesture has become part of a broader conversation about whether Arab teams have faced racism during this World Cup.
So far, however, no other major incidents involving Arab national teams have been reported. The tournament’s Arab participants have largely played their matches without significant controversy.
Racism at the World Cup, like racism beyond the stadium, reflects a broader social problem. Its prevalence depends not only on those who engage in it but also on how consistently it is confronted with education, public accountability and, above all, meaningful enforcement of the rules.
This version is adapted for an English-language news audience in a Reuters/New York Times feature style, with smoother structure, attribution, and transitions while preserving the substance of the original article.
Adapted and translated from the original Arabic.
