Egypt coach Hossam Hassan, his brother Ibrahim Hassan and player Mostafa Zico have a chance of having their FIFA suspensions reduced, according to international lawyer Fahmi Belhaj, who has outlined the conditions under which the sanctions could be challenged.
The three were punished by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee following incidents surrounding Egypt’s 3-2 defeat by Argentina in the round of 16 of the World Cup.
Hossam Hassan, the Egyptian national team coach, and team manager Ibrahim Hassan received three-match suspensions each, while Zico was banned for five matches. All three were also fined $20,000 following statements made in the aftermath of Egypt’s dramatic defeat.
Belhaj told winwin in an exclusive interview that the sanctions can be appealed before FIFA’s Appeals Committee because they exceed the threshold below which disciplinary decisions cannot be challenged.
“The decisions issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee against Hossam Hassan, Ibrahim Hassan, and player Mostafa Zico are subject to appeal. This right is in accordance with the provisions of paragraph two of Article 62 of the FIFA Disciplinary Regulations, specifically Article 61, paragraph one, which stipulates that an appeal is not possible if the penalty is equal to or less than two matches or two months’ suspension. Since the penalties issued here are three matches and five matches, they can therefore be appealed before the FIFA Appeals Committee.”
The lawyer explained that the length of the suspensions makes them eligible for an appeal under the relevant provisions of FIFA’s disciplinary regulations.
However, he also clarified that the suspended individuals cannot use friendly matches to serve their bans.
According to Belhaj, the sanctions were imposed in connection with official international competition, meaning the suspensions must be served during official matches rather than friendly fixtures.
This distinction could affect the period during which the Egyptian coach, his brother and Zico remain unavailable under the disciplinary decisions.
Appeals committee holds the key to reducing sanctions
Belhaj believes there is a realistic possibility that the suspensions could be reduced if an appeal is submitted successfully.
He stressed that the final decision rests with FIFA’s Appeals Committee, which has the authority to examine the case and determine whether the original sanctions should be maintained or amended.
“From a legal standpoint, the opportunity to reduce the suspension penalties issued against Hossam Hassan, Ibrahim Hassan, and the player Mustafa Zico remains very likely and possible. This matter falls entirely within the powers of the FIFA Appeals Committee, as Article 63 of the Disciplinary Regulations clearly stipulates granting the committee full authority to reconsider both the facts and the law, which makes the possibility of amending the decision and reducing the penalty a viable and strong option.
The committee’s authority to review both the facts and the legal basis of the original ruling means that the sanctions are not necessarily final in their current form if an appeal is pursued.
Nevertheless, the possibility of a reduction does not guarantee that the suspensions will be shortened. The outcome will depend on the Appeals Committee’s assessment of the case and its decision under FIFA’s disciplinary regulations.
For Egypt, the situation leaves the national team’s coaching staff and Zico facing the existing suspensions unless the appeal process results in a change to the original ruling.
The disciplinary case stems from the reaction to Egypt’s 3-2 loss against Argentina, a result that saw the Egyptian side suffer a dramatic defeat in the closing stages of the World Cup round-of-16 encounter.
The sanctions against Hossam Hassan, Ibrahim Hassan and Zico were issued after statements made in connection with the match, prompting questions over whether the punishments could be challenged and what options were available to reduce them.
Belhaj’s assessment identifies an appeal to FIFA’s Appeals Committee as the available legal route for seeking a reduction, while making clear that friendly matches cannot be used to complete the suspensions.
