Egyptian football staff clash with Dallas police after a fan selfie at World Cup hotel

Arrival marred by confrontation

Egypt's delegation landed in Dallas on Thursday, 3 July, to prepare for the round-of-16 World Cup match. Within hours, a video circulating on social media showed team manager Ibrahim Hassan – brother of head coach Hossam Hassan – locked in a heated exchange with an officer. The flashpoint: a young supporter's attempt to photograph Trezeguet.

The selfie that ignited the lobby

A fan approached the player for a picture, and Trezeguet smiled and held the phone. A security agent then stepped in to block the interaction, prompting Ibrahim Hassan to intervene. In the footage, an officer can be heard repeatedly shouting, 'Back off!'

There was an altercation between Ibrahim Hassan and a hotel security officer because of the organisers' poor handling of Egyptian fans. The fans wanted souvenir photos with the players, but security intervened aggressively. This infuriated Hassan, who protested the staff's rough methods.

Brief escalation, no arrests

Shoving and insults followed before other delegation members separated the sides. Police did not make any arrests, and no one was reported injured. The Egyptian Football Association later described the incident as 'a simple moment of verbal tension that quickly subsided.'

Viral videos and fake news

Clips of the argument spread rapidly online, drawing criticism of the American security approach already under scrutiny during the tournament. Unverified claims – including that the fan's family received an apology invitation to the stadium – were dismissed as false. Ibrahim Hassan made no public statement.

Eyes on the pitch

Despite the turmoil, Egypt's camp insisted the altercation would not affect preparation for the fixture. Head coach Hossam Hassan confirmed that star forward Mohamed Salah is fit after a muscle issue in the final group game. Kick-off against Australia is set for 21:00 local time in Dallas.