A gesture made by Egyptian national team coach Hossam Hassan during the Pharaohs’ match against Argentina in the World Cup has sparked both confusion and controversy.
The yellow card came after Hassan made an “X” gesture with his arms crossed in front of the referee.
This wasn’t just a simple arm gesture – it was actually FIFA’s new symbol for players and officials to report racist incidents.
According to FIFA, this gesture is a way for referees, players, and match officials to report racist behavior.
At that point, the referee decides whether to stop the match.
Match officials have the authority to stop the match, but this comes with a warning that if the racist incident causing the stoppage does not cease, the match can be abandoned.
FIFA guidelines do not stipulate that the person making the gesture should receive a yellow card.
Furthermore, the details of the alleged racist incident Hassan was referring to, and the referee’s rationale for showing him the card, remain unclear.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
