Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan urged the soccer world to do more for the Palestinian cause, using an official FIFA press conference ahead of his team’s last-16 match against Argentina to call on athletes and journalists to support Palestinian civilians.
“If a person anywhere in the world does not feel for the Palestinian people, then they have lost part of their humanity,” Hassan told reporters.
His remarks came after he was asked about waving the Palestinian flag following Egypt’s elimination of Australia in the last 32 in Dallas last Friday, and whether he might do so again if Egypt upsets Argentina on Tuesday.
“What came out of me was simply a human reaction. Before being Arab, Muslim, Christian or anything else, I am a human being. Through football, the world’s soft power, I want to send a message: please let the Palestinian people live. I ask athletes and journalists everywhere to help deliver that message,” Hassan said.
“When people speak about human rights, animal rights, and justice, we should also speak about Palestinian civilians,” he added.
Hassan made the appeal while also addressing Egypt’s upcoming knockout match against Argentina. Egypt will face the defending World Cup champions in the last 16 on Tuesday, with Hassan acknowledging the scale of the challenge posed by Lionel Messi and his team.
The comments also came against the backdrop of Israel’s assault on Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, triggered a hunger crisis and internally displaced nearly all of Gaza’s population.
FIFA’s Laws of the Game and tournament regulations prohibit political slogans on equipment. However, the rules cited in relation to political messaging do not establish in the provided information whether coaches are prevented from expressing political views during press conferences.
Turning to Tuesday’s match, Hassan conceded that Egypt will be the underdog against Argentina but insisted his players are not intimidated.
“We know we are playing against the World Cup holders and one of the greatest players ever (Messi), but we do not fear them,” he said.
“We have a responsibility towards Egypt and the Arab world and Africa. We represent all of them.
“That responsibility makes us focus on ourselves and on what we can produce on the field,” Hassan added.
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