Moroccan Players' 'X' Gesture Not Linked to Support for Hossam Hassan

Images showing Moroccan national team players performing an 'X' gesture, which circulated widely on social media, have been mistakenly linked to a recent controversy involving Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan and refereeing decisions in a 2026 World Cup match.

These posts claimed the gesture was a sign of solidarity with Egypt and a protest against what was described as "refereeing injustice" faced by the Egyptian team during their match against Argentina. The posts also referenced the phrase "No to racism," suggesting a connection between the gesture and the refereeing dispute.

The claim gained significant traction among football fans amid heightened debate over refereeing decisions in the tournament. Several sports and fan accounts shared images purportedly from the official Moroccan national team Instagram account, associating the 'X' gesture with the controversy following Egypt's loss to Argentina.

Some users interpreted the players' 'X' sign as a clear Arab solidarity message with Egypt, especially since coach Hossam Hassan was seen making a similar gesture during the match. Others framed the images as evidence that "Arab peoples share one cause," reflecting widespread public sympathy for Egypt after the game and criticism of refereeing and video assistant referee (VAR) decisions.

However, reverse image searches and source verification revealed that the photos are authentic but date back to June 6, 2026. They originate from an official pre-World Cup photoshoot connected to an anti-racism campaign, not as a response to any specific match or refereeing decision.

This timing indicates that the images predate the refereeing controversy and were not published as a new statement following Egypt's match. Therefore, the association of the Moroccan players' 'X' sign with recent events involving Hossam Hassan is unfounded.

The last minutes of the Egypt-Argentina round of 16 match in the 2026 World Cup were marked by dramatic moments. Argentina won 3-2 after Egypt lost a two-goal lead, but the match was also overshadowed by a major refereeing dispute.

During the tense final moments, cameras captured Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan clearly crossing his arms in an 'X' shape immediately after receiving a yellow card from the referee.

Following the match, the Egyptian Football Association requested an investigation into the refereeing team’s performance, expressing dissatisfaction with decisions that influenced the game's outcome.

Egypt exited the tournament after the 3-2 defeat, amid widespread frustration over some refereeing calls during the encounter.