Egypt coach slams football icons' silence on Gaza children

• Egypt coach Hossam Hassan criticises football icons’ silence on Gaza: “Children wearing your shirts are being killed.”

In an emotionally charged press conference at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan delivered a fierce, impassioned monologue criticizing the global community and football’s elite for their silence regarding the plight of children in Gaza.

Responding to a question from a Cairo 24 correspondent regarding whether Egypt faced refereeing bias due to his outspoken humanitarian stances, Hassan pivoted to double down on his defense of the Palestinian cause, calling out what he described as global hypocrisy.

A Direct Message to Football's Superstars

Hassan, who has drawn widespread attention for waving a Palestinian flag during the tournament, addressed the world's biggest football icons directly. He emphasized that the children suffering and losing their lives in Gaza are the very same ones who idolize European football.

"Children who are wearing Argentina, Barcelona, City, and Real Madrid shirts are being killed, yet you remain silent" Hassn said.
The Egyptian manager argued that the sports world’s massive influence should be used to protect these children rather than remaining indifferent.

"Everywhere in the world, if an animal is hurt, we see animal rights being defended and the whole world reacts," Hassan stated. "But it has become normalized to hear that thousands of people die in a single day because of a missile."

Invoking FIFA’s Values

Hassan invoked FIFA’s core campaign slogans to highlight the disparity between the values preached on the pitch and the reality experienced by civilians in Gaza.

"FIFA’s slogans say 'Respect' and 'Fair Play'," Hassan argued. "We want fairness in life, and we want respect for human beings. We want respect so that people can live, and fairness so that nations can survive."

The manager’s statement was met with widespread applause from several journalists present at the media briefing. Hassan concluded by stating that his stance stems purely from a baseline of human empathy rather than political alignment.

"If there is anyone in the world who does not feel for the Palestinian people, then they are not human—whether they are Arab, European, or American," he added.