Meaning of the 'X' Hand Gesture by the Egyptian Coach that Went Viral Against Argentina in the 2026 World Cup

Kapanlagi.com - The Round of 16 match of the 2026 World Cup between Argentina and Egypt left more than just a drama of five goals. In the midst of the game, which ended in a 3-2 victory for Argentina, the public was intrigued by the action of the Egyptian coach, Hossam Hassan, who formed the letter "X" with both hands at the sidelines.

The gesture quickly went viral on social media. Many assumed it was a secret instruction to the players or a form of protest against the referee's decision. However, the meaning behind the gesture turned out to be much more serious.

The hand movement forming an "X" is an official signal introduced by FIFA as part of efforts to combat racism and all forms of discrimination in football.

1. FIFA's Official Signal to Report Alleged Discrimination

Gianni Infantino, FIFA president at the match between Egypt and Argentina (Credit: AP)

Crossing both arms to form the letter "X" in front of the body is now an official visual signal that can be used by players, coaches, or match officials if they suspect acts of racism or discrimination during the match.

This rule was approved by FIFA at the 74th Congress held in Bangkok in 2024. The aim is to provide an easily recognizable way to report suspected discriminatory incidents so that the referee can take appropriate action according to procedure.

With this symbol, reports of alleged discrimination can be communicated not only verbally but also clearly visible to all match officials.

2. FIFA Has a Three-Stage Protocol

The gesture "X" does not mean that the match is automatically stopped. The signal serves as an initial indication for the referee to assess the situation that has occurred.

In FIFA's protocol, there are three stages of handling if allegations of racism or discrimination are found.

The first stage, the referee can temporarily stop the match to evaluate the report received. If the incident continues, the match can be suspended and both teams are asked to leave the field for a while.

If the situation does not improve, the final step is to permanently stop the match in order to protect the victim.

3. Used by Hossam Hassan After Argentina's Third Goal

Hossam Hassan used the gesture shortly after Enzo Fernandez scored Argentina's third goal at the end of the match.

According to explanations from the Egyptian camp, the coach suspected that there were racist remarks heard as the Argentine players celebrated the goal.

However, until the controversy arose, no evidence had been published to the public that could confirm the allegation that the incident actually occurred.

4. Referee Continues the Match

Hossam Hassan debates with Francois Letexier (Credit: AP)

The French referee, Francois Letexier, chose not to stop the match despite receiving protests from Hossam Hassan.

Instead of activating further protocols, Letexier issued a yellow card to the Egyptian coach for what was deemed excessive protesting.

This decision sparked debate among football fans. Some argued that the referee should at least review the situation according to FIFA procedures, while others believed there was not enough strong evidence to activate the next steps.

5. Historic Moment at the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the FIFA men's tournament to officially implement the use of the "X" gesture as part of its anti-racism protocol.

As a result, Hossam Hassan's actions have the potential to become one of the most historic moments related to the implementation of this new rule on the World Cup stage.

Despite the controversy that arose, the use of the "X" symbol reaffirms FIFA's commitment to providing a clearer mechanism for addressing allegations of discrimination. Now, the next challenge is to ensure that the protocol is applied consistently when similar incidents actually occur on the field.

(kpl/gtr)