Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan indicated that a dispute involving Dallas police officers has been resolved. The incident occurred at the team’s hotel in Arlington, Texas, which is located approximately 13 miles east of Fort Worth.
The confrontation began on Thursday, one day before Egypt defeated Australia in the round of 16 of the World Cup. A video circulated showing Hassan and team director Ibrahim Hassan arguing with a Dallas police officer in the hotel lobby. The dispute appeared to center on a player who was attempting to take a photograph with a young fan.
According to the video, the officer approached Hossam Hassan first. The interaction with Ibrahim Hassan escalated into a physical exchange involving shoving. Ibrahim Hassan appeared upset by the officer’s intervention.
Dallas police released a statement explaining that officers responded to a request from hotel security personnel. The request concerned an individual without event credentials who was trying to gain access to the area. The statement noted that the situation was handled on-site and that police met with Egyptian representatives to address their concerns.
Hossam Hassan confirmed that the team had accepted an apology from the police. He expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements and the high level of organization provided during the tournament.
