Previously unseen footage of the controversial altercation involving Lionel Messi and the Egypt bench has revealed a coach attempting to confront the Argentina captain.
In what many have described as one of the standout matches of the 2026 World Cup, defending champions Argentina booked their place in the quarter-finals after an enthralling encounter against Egypt.
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Despite entering the contest as clear outsiders, Egypt struck first when defender Yasser Ibrahim scored just 15 minutes after kick-off.
Argentina’s problems deepened six minutes later when Messi failed to convert from the penalty spot, with Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir making the save to preserve his side’s advantage heading into the break.
Egypt thought they had added another goal shortly after the restart, but VAR ruled it out. Nevertheless, they restored their two-goal cushion when forward Mostafa Ziko found the net in the 67th minute.
Argentina, however, produced a dramatic turnaround. Goals from Cristian Romero and Messi, followed by Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner in the 93rd minute, completed a remarkable comeback and sent the holders into the quarter-finals.
One of the Egyptian coaches tries to fight Lionel Messi and gets a red card
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Even so, the most talked-about moment came away from the goals, as emotions flared near the Egypt technical area late in the game in Atlanta, where head coach Hossam Hassan was seen making the controversial ‘X’ gesture.
Fresh footage has since emerged showing another member of Egypt’s coaching staff being restrained by colleagues as he appeared to move towards Messi in an apparent attempt to confront him.
The clip, which was posted on Reddit, captures Messi exchanging words with the Egypt bench before teammates Lisandro Martinez and Leandro Paredes escorted him away from the scene.
Despite this, Egypt goalkeeping coach Saafan El-Sagheer continued arguing with the Argentina skipper, following him onto the field while visibly shouting and attempting to attract his attention.
He was eventually restrained by fellow coaching staff and several substitutes, who pulled him away from the pitch.
His conduct still resulted in match referee Francois Letexier issuing him a straight red card.
Hassan also received a caution from the referee for his conduct during the closing stages of the match.
While disputing decisions with the official, Hassan was seen making the ‘X’ gesture.
The gesture is commonly associated with reporting alleged incidents of racist abuse, although it remains uncertain whether that was Hassan’s intended meaning.
Alternatively, Hassan may have been using the gesture in a similar manner to former Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho during a 2010 incident in which he made the same ‘X’ sign.
Mourinho’s gesture was judged to be an ‘offensive expression’ directed at a match official because it symbolised a pair of handcuffs, resulting in a three-match suspension.
After Hassan made the gesture, an Egypt substitute stepped in before his brother and coach Ibrahim approached and lowered Hassan’s hands.
Addressing reporters after the match, Hassan asked: “Why isn’t there any fairness in sport? In football?
“I do not want to try to put it nicely here with beautiful wording. We have been treated unfairly today. We have suffered injustice.”
He further stated that Egypt had opposed the appointment of French referee Letexier, adding that he would boycott the remainder of the World Cup by refusing to watch any more matches.
“It is my own way of speaking up and standing up,” he said. “I am not going to watch a single match of this tournament.”
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