World Cup referee involved in lengthy exchange after Egypt manager's 'X' gesture vs Argentina

Egypt manager Hossam Hassan made an 'X' gesture towards match referee Francois Letexier towards the end of his side's 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Egypt went two goals up through strikes from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko in the opening 67 minutes.

But Argentina staged a comeback through goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and, lastly, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Fernandez's header into the bottom right corner from 12 yards completed the turnaround for Argentina on 92 minutes, and they now progress to the quarter-finals.

Egypt players protested that there was a foul in the build-up to Messi's equaliser, having themselves seen a goal disallowed for the foul in the build-up.

And tensions boiled over in the dugout towards full-time in Atlanta, with referee Letexier showing a yellow card to one of Egypt's coaching staff in the 98th minute.

That was when Egypt manager Hassan made an 'X' gesture towards the official.

The gesture is commonly used for reporting instances of alleged racist abuse, though it is unclear whether it was definitively used for that reason in particular.

In 2010, then Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho showed a similar 'X' gesture which was deemed to be an 'offensive expression' towards a match official as it depicted a pair of handcuffs. He was subsequently given a three-match ban.

Following Hassan's gesture, an Egypt substitute intervened, before his brother and coach Ibrahim walked across to put Hassan's hands back by his sides.

Egypt manager Hossam Hassan was booked at the end of his side's defeat to Argentina (Image: Getty)

Letexier then had a lengthy discussion with both manager and coach, with Ibrahim making a thumbs-up gesture towards the referee before he returned to the pitch.

It is unclear as to whether he took any further action.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Hossam Hassan told reporters: "Why isn't there any fairness in sport? In football?

"I do not want to try to put it nicely here with beautiful wording. We have been treated unfairly today. We have suffered injustice."

He went on to further claim that Egypt had objected to the selection of Letexier, who is from France, as the referee, and confirmed he will not watch another match at the World Cup.

"It is my own way of speaking up and standing up," he said. "I am not going to watch a single match of this tournament."

SPORTbible have contacted FIFA for comment.