Overview
- FIFA's Disciplinary Committee issued the sanctions on Oct. 19, 2026, suspending coach Hossam Hassan and team director Ibrahim Hassan for three matches each and forward Mostafa Zico for five matches.
- The Egyptian Football Association has formally requested the committee's detailed written grounds so it can study the ruling and assess legal options, including a possible appeal.
- The bans are mapped to AFCON 2027 qualifying dates, with Hossam and Ibrahim set to miss both November qualifiers against Malawi and Egypt's March 2027 opener against Angola, while Zico is barred from national duty until June 2027.
- FIFA said the punishments followed public insults and accusations of biased officiating after Egypt's 3-2 World Cup loss to Argentina, including a disallowed goal, a late penalty claim, Hossam's confrontational remarks and Zico calling the tournament 'rigged'.
- FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina defended the match officials and warned that public allegations can endanger referees; the suspensions come as the EFA faces the practical challenge of managing qualification without two senior coaches and a key attacker.