Credit: Buda Mendes/Getty Images

(CNN)-- Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan said he tried to use one of FIFA's laws to protest the decisions of referee Francois Letexier, who officiated the match between the Pharaohs and Argentina.

While on the bench, Hossam Hassan received a yellow card after protesting a refereeing decision, then made a gesture crossing his arms in an 'X' shape.

Hossam Hassan and the Egyptian players expressed their dissatisfaction with the referee's performance after the match ended with a 3-2 victory for the Tango team, in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

In an interview with Egyptian channel ON, the 59-year-old coach said on Monday: 'I was surprised, I didn't make a mistake, I didn't go to the opponent's bench; they came to us, both coaching staff and players. I was talking to the referee. I tried to exploit FIFA's laws on racism, which is the sign placed in the locker rooms (the X sign). You saw how the match turned strangely from not awarding us a penalty to a goal against us.'

He added: 'I endured a lot, and with all politeness and respect, and through FIFA's laws, I controlled myself (by using this gesture), but I was surprised by the referee. The crossing of arms gesture means enough, no more of this (more refereeing mistakes). The referee was about to give me a red card, but he backed down. I told him he made a mistake and didn't give us a penalty, and the players tried to calm me down.'