NEW YORK — The award for the most chaotically eccentric post-match interview of the World Cup has to go to Hossam Hassan.
“I will say what’s on my mind regardless of the consequence, because I don’t care,” said the Egypt head coach.
“This is clearly a rigged match. If they want Argentina to win so bad, why call everyone else to come and participate?”
Hassan had just watched a two-goal lead evaporate before his eyes, Egypt knocked out by the world champions after a VAR debacle involving two goals – one which was allowed to stand, and one which was not. A foul on Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez was given, preventing a goal. When it was an infringement on Mo Salah at the other end, it was play on.
Tin hats around the world, and particularly from IP addresses in Madeira, Portugal, transmitted the signal. Across the globe, keyboards hammered home the conspiracy theory that the World Cup has been predetermined so that Lionel Messi can win it again. Before a ball was kicked there were grumblings about Argentina’s side of the draw, avoiding Spain, France and Portugal.
