Hossam Hassan’s ‘X’ gesture raised questions after he clashed with the referee, which resulted in him receiving a yellow card during Egypt’s World Cup defeat.
Hossam Hassan, Egypt’s national team coach, attracted widespread attention during his team’s dramatic 2026 World Cup defeat to Argentina after he made an “X” gesture towards referee François Letxer during a tense confrontation in the final minutes of the match.
The moment quickly became one of the biggest talking points in the game, with viewers wondering what the gesture meant and whether it could lead to disciplinary action. While the symbol has a recognized meaning under FIFA regulations, the context in which Hassan used it remains open to interpretation, and FIFA has not publicly confirmed how it viewed the incident.
The incident that sparked this gesture
Hassan’s gesture came during a chaotic end to Egypt’s heartbreaking 3-2 defeat at Atlanta Stadium. Egypt seemed on its way to achieving one of the biggest surprises in the tournament after Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico advanced 2-0. However, Argentina pulled off a brilliant late comeback through Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandes, whose 92nd-minute header completed the turnaround and sent the defending champions into the quarter-finals. Frustration dominated the Egyptian bench in the final minutes.
Throughout the second half, Egypt protested several key refereeing decisions, especially after Zico’s previous goal was disallowed following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review that determined a foul on Lisandro Martinez during the build-up. Later, the Egyptian players also appealed for a foul before Messi’s equaliser, believing that Argentina’s attack should have been stopped. Tensions rose further during stoppage time. After Letexier showed the yellow card to a member of the Egyptian national team’s technical staff in the 98th minute, Hassan advanced towards the technical area and crossed with his forearms to form an “X” sign directly in front of the referee.
An Egyptian substitute immediately intervened before Hassan’s brother and assistant coach, Ibrahim Hassan, walked over and physically lowered his arms. Letexier then had a lengthy discussion with the brothers before returning to the field. Ibrahim Hassan tried to calm the situation, and even made a thumbs-up towards the referee during the exchange. No further disciplinary action was taken at the time, although Hassan himself was booked ahead of his full-time detention.
What does the “X” sign mean under FIFA rules?
Under FIFA’s anti-discrimination protocol, crossing the forearms to form an “X” is the internationally recognized gesture used by players, coaches and team officials to report alleged racist abuse during a match. Once the referee recognizes the signal, FIFA’s three-step anti-racism procedure can be activated. Depending on the severity of the situation, the referee may first temporarily stop play, then suspend the match if the abuse continues, and finally call off the match if the incidents continue.
Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan argues with referee François Letxer, of France, during the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
However, it remains unclear whether Hassan was using this gesture for this specific purpose. Neither Hassan nor the Egyptian Football Association stated that the gesture was intended to report racist abuse, and referee Letexier did not activate FIFA’s anti-discrimination protocol during the match. Instead, play continued after the confrontation. Since no official explanation has been given, the exact meaning behind Hassan’s gesture remains uncertain.
Why can FIFA still investigate?
Although the meaning of Hassan’s gesture has not been officially determined, it has sparked debate due to previous disciplinary cases involving similar actions. In 2010, Jose Mourinho, then Inter Milan coach, made a similar gesture with his arms towards the referee. In that case, the Italian authorities interpreted the image as depicting handcuffs, an offensive implication that the referee was biased, and Mourinho was banned for three matches. It remains uncertain whether the same interpretation will apply under current FIFA disciplinary regulations. According to African football journalist Mikey Junior, FIFA is expected to review Hassan’s conduct following the incident, with the Egyptian manager potentially facing disciplinary action. FIFA has not officially confirmed the investigation.
Hassan continued his criticism after his sabbatical
The confrontation formed part of broader criticism of the refereeing that Hassan leveled after the match. Speaking during his post-match press conference, the Egyptian coach questioned several refereeing decisions and insisted his team had been treated unfairly. “Why is there no justice in sports? In football?” Hassan told reporters. “I don’t want to try to put it nicely here. We were treated unfairly today. We suffered injustice.” He also revealed that Egypt objected before the start of the match to the appointment of French referee François Lexier, and reiterated that he believed his team did not receive fair treatment throughout the match. The emotional defeat even prompted Hassan to announce that he would no longer watch the rest of the tournament. “It’s my own way of speaking and standing,” he said. “I will not watch a single match in this tournament.” At the same time, official decisions also continued to divide opinion among supporters. After the Egyptian goal was canceled and several VAR interventions were made, social media was filled with accusations that the tournament had been rigged in favor of Argentina, although no evidence has emerged to support these allegations.