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The Egypt national team has accused a Dallas police officer of pushing its director, Ibrahim Hassan, and player Trezeguet at the team hotel in Dallas on Friday, ahead of the squad's Round of 32 match against Australia. The Dallas Police Department (DPD) said it responded to the hotel at the request of security and that the situation was resolved on the scene.

Coverage comparison

Al Jazeera reported that the incident occurred before Egypt's match against Australia, which was played on Friday in Dallas as part of the World Cup co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. The outlet quoted Egypt's team media officer, Mohamed Morad, describing the confrontation: a man and his son approached to take a photo with Hassan and Trezeguet, and the director approved the request, but a security officer intervened and pushed the fan, Trezeguet, and Hassan, despite the player and director being in their designated area.

The Jerusalem Post, citing local media, also reported that the incident happened at the team hotel and that the officer pushed both men. Both outlets noted that DPD responded and met with team representatives.

Key claims

  • Egypt's team media officer, Mohamed Morad, told Reuters that a Dallas police officer pushed team director Ibrahim Hassan and player Trezeguet as they posed for a photo with a fan at the team hotel on Friday, before Egypt's Round of 32 match against Australia.
  • Morad said the director had approved the photo request, but a security officer intervened and pushed the fan, Trezeguet, and Hassan, even though the player and director were in their designated area. He said Hassan then asked the officer to "deal with the fan in a normal manner."
  • The Dallas Police Department said it responded to an area hotel at the request of hotel security regarding "an individual without event credentials attempting to gain access." The department said it later learned the individuals were not displaying credentials properly, which is a requirement.
  • DPD said the situation was resolved on the scene and that officers met with representatives of the team to address their concerns. The department said the matter has since been resolved.
The Egypt national team played Australia in the round of 32 on Friday in Dallas at the tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Perspectives

Egypt national team: Team media officer Mohamed Morad said the officer pushed the fan, Trezeguet, and Hassan despite the player and director being in their designated area, and that Hassan asked the officer to handle the fan in a normal manner.

Dallas Police Department: DPD said it responded to the hotel at the request of hotel security regarding an individual without event credentials attempting to gain access, and that credentials were not being displayed properly. The department said the matter was resolved on the scene and that concerns were addressed with team representatives.