Harsh Reaction from Egypt Head Coach Hossam Hassan to the Argentina Match: 'FIFA is Protecting Messi'

Hossam Hassan, the head coach of the Egypt National Team, unleashed a torrent of criticism, claiming that the referee and VAR decisions were against them in the match against Argentina. Hassan suggests that the video assistant referee was not impartial, especially during critical moments that determined the fate of the match. These claims resemble complaints made worldwide for similar reasons. However, a detailed review reveals that Egypt was actually defeated due to their own mistakes. The Egyptian team ignores their strategic errors and individual shortcomings on the pitch, attempting to shift all the blame onto the referee.

Looking at the controversial moments of the match, it is safe to say that the penalty decision awarded to Argentina was a crystal clear foul, not even requiring VAR. It was observed that the Egyptian players accepted this situation on the pitch without any protest. Regarding the disallowed goal, it became evident that an Egyptian player committed an unfair foul at the very beginning of the play. Furthermore, the claim that Mohamed Salah was not brought down, and that there was no foul in the attack where Argentina had previously advanced, remains a debatable topic. In light of these details, it is clear that the referees did not make any decisions that openly determined the match's outcome.

This sense of victimhood felt by the Egyptian delegation emerges as a way to vent the anger of the defeat. It has even been reported that the Egyptian administration plans to file an official appeal to replay the match. Such appeals are not new in football history; Turkey, who was defeated by Paraguay, experienced a similar situation. It is known that the Turkish side also fostered a sense of victimhood in their country by claiming that one of their players deserved to be sent off in the group's elimination round, but VAR did not inform the referee. However, while these claims have not garnered significant attention in the international arena, Egypt's reaction is reaching a wider audience.

This incident has brought back an old rumor that the Argentina team, managed by Liam Scaloni, and particularly Lionel Messi, are protected by FIFA. Many football fans argue that the star player's continued presence in tournaments is financially and athletically driven. For instance, it was widely discussed that during his time playing for his former club Barcelona, Messi was protected by UEFA, and opposing head coaches implied this situation. It is also remembered that world-class managers like Jose Mourinho have occasionally made similar complaints.

From a historical perspective, controversial decisions made in favor of legendary players actually reinforce their legendary status. Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 World Cup is one of the clearest examples of this. Fans who love Maradona accept this situation not as an incredible refereeing mistake, but rather as a symbolic event in football history. Messi's act of turning around the 0-2 score in the last 15 minutes of the Egypt match to carry his team is also immortalized as a legendary story proving his football genius. No matter how intense these debates get, the legacy of great players is shaped not merely by complaints, but by the extraordinary moments created on the pitch.