FIFA Plans to Impose Sanctions on Critics of World Cup Referees

FIFA has decided to postpone consideration of the controversial statements against referees until after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, while immediately preparing sanctions against coaches and players, including Egyptian national team coach Hossam Hassan, player Mostafa Zico, and German coach Thomas Tuchel, manager of the England national team.

Sources close to the matter revealed that FIFA refrained from announcing any sanctions during the tournament to ensure the smooth conduct of the competitions, but is compiling a comprehensive file of all incidents witnessed during the matches, in preparation for issuing deterrent decisions after the final whistle, similar to the approach taken during the 2022 World Cup.

England manager Thomas Tuchel tops the list of critics after describing referee Alireza Faghani’s performance in Mexico’s match as “unacceptable,” arguing that his decisions lacked consistency and were unfit for a World Cup, thereby placing him on the list of those expected to face disciplinary sanctions.

Egyptian national team coach Hossam Hassan also directed sharp criticism at French referee François Letexier following Egypt’s Round of 16 match against Argentina, accusing him of yielding to Argentine pressures that preceded the game, which he claimed influenced his decisions and led to the Pharaohs’ elimination.

Egyptian striker Mostafa Zico is not far from the circle of anticipated sanctions, having escalated his attacks on the referee, claiming that his decisions wasted the team’s efforts and altered the course of the match in which Egypt was leading. These remarks were described by judicial sources at FIFA as “exceeding acceptable limits.”

FIFA is expected to finalize its stance on all those who crossed the line, including Hossam Hassan, Zico, and Tuchel, immediately after the end of the World Cup, based on referee reports and available evidence, with decisions that may range from financial fines to multi-match bans.