FIFA suspends coach Hassan and forward Zico

 FIFA has suspended ⁠Egypt coach Hossam Hassan and forward Mostafa Zico for ​three and five matches ​respectively, the Egyptian Football Association said on Monday, after they criticised the referee following a 3-2 defeat by Argentina in the World Cup.
The 60-year-old Hassan was sanctioned after blaming refereeing errors for ⁠his country's elimination from the tournament in the last ⁠16, while Zico insulted the referee in a post-match interview.
Ibrahim Hassan, Hossam's twin brother and Egypt's national team director, has also ‌been suspended for three matches.
'The ​decisions include the ⁠suspension of Hossam Hassan and Ibrahim Hassan ​for three matches each, ‌while Zico has been suspended for five matches,' the EFA said in a ​statement.
The EFA said it had requested the detailed grounds for the decision from FIFA's Disciplinary Committee in order to assess its legal options and determine whether to appeal.
Zico had a ‌goal ruled out for a foul in the ​build-up, before Egypt's players appealed for a penalty near the ​end ‌when ⁠the score was 2-2.
However, FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina defended the officiating in the match, saying such allegations ​could provoke threats against referees and their ⁠families.
The suspensions ​could rule Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan out of Egypt's upcoming matches against Malawi in the next rounds of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying in November, as well ​as the first match of the March ​international window. Zico will be unavailable until June.
 — Reuters