At World Cup, Egypt coach calls on FIFA to use ‘soft power’ to aid Palestinians

After waving Palestinian flag at match, Hossam Hassan tells reporters that suffering in Gaza is ‘a shame on the entire world, not just the Arab world’

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan broke away from discussing his team’s upcoming World Cup round of 16 match against Argentina to give an impassioned monologue on Monday about the plight of the Palestinian people.

Hassan, who waved a Palestinian flag after Egypt’s victory over Australia in the last round, spoke for more than four minutes on the subject on Monday and was applauded by many of the assembled media.

“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,” Hassan said at news conference to preview Egypt’s game against defending champion Argentina on Tuesday.

“Everywhere in the world, including in Europe or America, if someone hurts an animal, we see animal rights being defended and the whole world reacts,” Hassan said. “It has become normal to hear that two or three thousand people die in a single day because of a missile.”

Even during the deadliest days of fighting in Gaza, the death toll was never several thousand — a figure that would be largely impossible with a single missile.

Pro-Palestinian protests have become common around the world, with athletes — including Spain’s Lamine Yamal — showing their support. FIFA said it is permitted to display the Palestinian flag at the World Cup.

“Regardless of religion… I am a human before being Arab or anything else. My message, through football, is this: Please, just as FIFA’s slogan calls for respect among us, I hope there will be respect for people’s right to live,” Hassan said.

Hassan said the lack of action is “a shame on us. A shame on the entire world, not just the Arab world, a shame on everyone and a shame on first of all decision makers who leave human beings behind.”

Egypt’s all-time top goalscorer went on to call for FIFA and players to take a more active stance for the Palestinian people.

“My message would be to use football as soft power,” he added. “I urge all of you, the media, all athletes worldwide, regardless of their identities maybe we can convey a collective message. That is as follows: ‘let the Palestinian people be, let them exist, let them live a life of their own.’ This is normal.”

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.

Hassan conceded his side were underdogs for Tuesday’s clash against Argentina, but insisted they were far from overawed.

“We know we are playing against the World Cup holders and one of the greatest players ever [Lionel 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.”