Egypt coach makes Palestine appeal to keep political spotlight back on World Cup

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/trezeguet/GEpGVvdq/"]Hassan[/a]'s remarks came ‌as world football's governing body was already defending its disciplinary process following criticism of its decision ‌to suspend [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balgun-folarin/rVZLmUsU/"]Folarin Balogun[/a]'s red-card ban, a move praised by US ‌President Donald Trump.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a] take on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] in the last 16 on Tuesday, and ‌while Hassan dealt with questions about [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Lionel Messi[/a] and his team's ‌chances against the holders, he also spoke at length about the Palestinians.[/p][p]"If a person anywhere in the world does not feel for the Palestinian people, then they have ‌lost part of their humanity," he told reporters ⁠after one had asked him about ‌waving the Palestinian flag after Egypt eliminated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] in the last 32 in ​Dallas last Friday, and whether he might do it again if they upset Argentina.[/p][p][b]"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.[/b][/p][p][b]"When people speak about human rights, animal rights, and justice, we should also speak about Palestinian civilians," Hassan added.[/b][/p][embed guid="195a3ca3-24a5-4a43-bd69-5b00c01cb926" url="https://x.com/ImtiazMadmood/status/2073293658250428761" social-type="twitter" /][p]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 - has been described as genocide by some UN experts and rights organisations, an allegation Israel rejects.[/p][p]Israel says it is acting in self-defence following the Hamas-led October 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and during which 251 people were taken hostage. Israel rejects allegations that it is committing genocide.[/p][p]FIFA's Laws of the Game and tournament regulations prohibit political slogans on equipment, but Reuters ‌could not immediately identify a rule preventing coaches from expressing political views ​in press conferences.[/p][p]Hassan conceded his side were underdogs for Tuesday's clash ‌but insisted they were far from overawed.[/p][image alt="Argentina - Egypt win probability" id="fccce29c-036c-4e51-966a-2de0f4c0caa5" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="d2676ed6-b6c3-4195-a4ea-7cf559e4a16b" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]"We know we are playing against the World Cup holders and one of the greatest players ever (Messi), but we do not fear them.[/b][/p][p][b]"We have a responsibility towards Egypt and the Arab world and Africa. We represent all of them.[/b][/p][p][b]"That ⁠responsibility makes us focus on ⁠ourselves and on what we ‌can produce on the field," he added.[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/egypt-bejDn7NN/?mid=bodsDyte"]Follow the game with Flashscore.[/a][/p]