FIFA has suspended Egypt coach Hossam Hassan and forward Mostafa Zico after they criticised the referee following their 3-2 defeat by Argentina at the World Cup, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said on Monday.
Hossam Hassan received a three-match suspension, while Zico was banned for five matches. Ibrahim Hassan, the Egypt coach’s twin brother and the national team’s director, was also suspended for three matches.
The sanctions follow Egypt’s elimination in the last 16, with Hossam Hassan blaming refereeing errors for the defeat and Zico insulting the referee during a post-match interview.
Zico had a goal ruled out for a foul in the build-up, while Egypt’s players also appealed for a penalty late in the match when the score stood at 2-2.
The incidents prompted criticism from the Egyptian camp, but FIFA’s refereeing chief, Pierluigi Collina, defended the officiating. He warned that allegations of bias could expose referees and their families to threats.
The EFA said it had requested the detailed grounds for the disciplinary decisions from FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee. The association will review the explanation before deciding whether to appeal.
“The decisions include the suspension of Hossam Hassan and Ibrahim Hassan for three matches each, while Zico has been suspended for five matches,” the EFA said in a statement.
The bans could rule Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan out of Egypt’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Malawi in November, as well as the first match of the March international window.
Zico faces a longer absence and will be unavailable until June, according to the report.
The suspensions add to the fallout from Egypt’s World Cup exit and leave the EFA considering its options as it awaits FIFA’s full explanation.
The association has not confirmed whether it will appeal the decisions.
