sports
Egypt Coach Calls Palestinian Suffering 'a Shame on the World' at Atlanta Press Conference
Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan addressed the suffering of Palestinians during a pre-match press conference in Atlanta on Monday. He urged football's governing bodies and athletes to use the sport's influence to support the Palestinian people. Egypt faces defending champions Argentina in the World Cup round of 16 on Tuesday.
espn.co.ukAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Egypt national football team coach Hossam Hassan said the suffering of the Palestinian people was a shame on the world during a pre-match press conference in Atlanta on Monday. Hassan made the remarks ahead of Egypt's round-of-16 match against defending champions Argentina.
He called on FIFA and players to take a more active stance and urged media and athletes worldwide to convey the message that the Palestinian people should be allowed to exist and live a life of their own.
"If there is someone who has not felt the suffering of the Palestinian people then he or she has no humanity," Hassan said. "I would like to say this is a shame on us. " Hassan waved a Palestine flag after Egypt defeated Australia on penalties to reach the round of 16.
His remarks at the press conference drew applause from many journalists present. "My message would be to use football as soft power," he added. Al-Monitor reported that the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, with militants taking 251 hostages to Gaza.
Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 people, according to the territory's health ministry. Hassan is Egypt's all-time top goalscorer.
