Egypt ‘cheated’ in controversial World Cup exit to Argentina, says Hassan

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Egypt coach Hossam Hassan claimed his side had been “cheated” out of a place in the World Cup quarter-finals after Argentina staged a stunning late comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 on Tuesday.

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“I do not want to put it nicely and talk about hard luck. We have been cheated unfairly today, we have suffered injustice,” Hassan said in an explosive press conference.

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The Pharaohs had a Mostafa Zico goal ruled out when they were leading 1-0 when VAR intervened to spot a foul on Lisandro Martinez much earlier in the move.

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Zico did then put Egyptian on the brink of a place in the last eight for the first time by doubling their lead.

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However, the defending champions hit back as Cristian Romero reduced the arrears before Lionel Messi, who saw a first-half penalty saved, smashed in the equaliser with his eighth goal of the tournament.

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The controversy did not end there, though, as in the build-up to Argentina’s winner scored by Enzo Fernandez, Egypt believe they should have instead been awarded a penalty for a pull by Alexis Mac Allister on Hamdy Fathy.

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“We haven’t seen respect or fair play. There has not been respect or fair play,” Hassan said.

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“A penalty was ruled out, was not even checked by VAR. A second goal was remarkably disallowed. There has not even been a VAR check when we have all seen the image of the (shirt) being pulled back.”

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Hassan said he would not watch any more matches of the tournament, such was the injustice he felt.

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“I am not going to continue following the matches of this World Cup, watching the matches of this World Cup,” he added.

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“This is my own way of speaking up.”

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kca/gj

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