Free Republic

The coach of the Egyptian national team was visibly seething as fans waved around an Israeli flag after his team’s 3-2 loss to Argentina. Egypt maintained a 2-0 lead up until the 79th minute of Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup match. Argentina then went on a tear that began with a Cristian Romero goal assisted by Lionel Messi. Just a few minutes later, Messi scored the equalizer. Then, in stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez scored on a header to complete the stunning comeback win. As the Egyptian team was walking off the pitch, coach Hossam Hassan noticed a pair of Argentina fans...

Egypt manager Hossam Hassan restrained by security in Atlanta after confronting a fan with an Israeli flag, days after waving a PLO flag on the pitch. ...Egypt's national soccer team manager, Hossam Hassan, confronted a fan waving an Israeli flag in the stands in Atlanta on Tuesday, following his team's World Cup defeat to Argentina. After the final whistle, Hassan was heading down to the dressing rooms when he spotted the fan with the Israeli flag in the stands. He attempted to lunge at him but was restrained by stadium security forces on the scene. Hassan and his brother, who...

Argentine fans defiantly waved the flag of Israel in the stands during Tuesday’s match against Egypt after the Pharaoh’s head coach, Hossam Hassan, expressed sympathy for Palestine. During Egypt’s 3-2 loss to Argentina in the round of 16, two fans were seen holding the Israeli flag in a 100-level section at Atlanta Stadium. Last week, Hassan — who alleged that the reigning world champions were given special treatment from the referees — donned a Palestinian flag over his shoulders while celebrating his squad’s round-of-32 victory over Australia, which marked the nation’s first-ever World Cup knockout win. Speaking to reporters during...

Egypt manager Hossam Hassan has furiously accused FIFA of rigging the World Cup after a string of controversial refereeing decisions went against his side during Argentina's dramatic late comeback in Atlanta on Tuesday. Argentina, who were 2-0 down with 12 minutes to play plus stoppage time, looked destined to exit the tournament before late goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez resulted in a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory. When Fernandez's game-winning header rippled the net in the 93rd minute, chaos broke out on the touchline as Egypt's furious staff remonstrated with referee Francois Letexier, leading to goalkeeper coach...