The Supreme Council for Media in Egypt issued a directive on Wednesday prohibiting national football team coach Hossam Hassan from appearing in any media outlet. The decision stems from a controversy surrounding the coach’s personal life and his relationship with his ex-wife, which escalated into a public dispute.
In a statement, the Council confirmed it had banned Hassan, identified as the technical director of the Egyptian national team, from all media platforms subject to press and media regulation laws. The ban takes effect immediately upon the issuance of the decision, with no specified end date. The Council also announced that the existing ban on the appearance of “Dana Adam,” known publicly as Dina Mustafa, would remain in force across all media channels.
The regulatory body described its measures as a package concerning violations of regulations regarding respect for private life. However, the statement did not specify any particular infraction or quote any remarks attributed directly to the coach. Reports indicate that Hassan’s lawyer, Ahmed Amr, along with Amir Mansour, filed an official complaint with the Public Prosecutor against Dina Mustafa. The complaint includes allegations of forgery of official documents and bigamy. These accusations have been denied by Dina Mustafa’s first husband and her legal counsel.
Amidst these developments, former Egyptian international Mahmoud Abdel Razek, known as Shikabala, called for Hassan’s resignation during an interview with MBC 2. Shikabala stated that he had never before witnessed such commotion surrounding the national team coach. He emphasized that the role requires a figure with dignity and status, asserting that these qualities were currently lacking. He clarified that his comments were unrelated to football matters.
This administrative ruling comes shortly before the expected announcement of the squad for matches against Malawi in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The two teams are scheduled to play in Cairo on November 13, followed by a match in Lilongwe four days later.
Hossam Hassan, aged 60, and his brother Ibrahim, the team manager, will be absent from the sidelines due to suspensions imposed by FIFA. The ban follows events after Egypt’s Round of 16 World Cup match against Argentina in North America last summer. A disciplinary committee sanctioned Hossam Hassan, Ibrahim, and player Mustafa Abd al-Raouf (Zico) for five matches. The sanctions resulted from objections to refereeing decisions and offensive statements made after Argentina’s 3-2 victory.
