Egypt will begin their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches with a new manager after their previous head coach was sacked amid a torrid breakdown of both of his marriages.
Hossam Hassan was handed his marching orders on Saturday after an incident in August which saw his two wives embroiled in a vicious fight, captured and shared on social media.
Hassan’s first wife Howaida El-Gharbawy and his second Dina ‘Dan Adam’ Mustafa started the argument while at a hotel bar in the upscale Porto Marina resort on Egypt’s north coast.
El-Gharbawy and Mustafa were videoed arguing with Hassan in the middle attempting to cool tensions, but the duo came to blows, with punches thrown and hair pulled as screams filled the air.
Such was the stress of the incident that Hassan is believed to have fainted as he tried to separate the two women.
Horrified public onlookers watched as the physical fight grew with relatives of the trio getting involved, and security was called before Hassan was taken to hospital.
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan was sacked this week after a fight broke out between his two wives
Hassan’s first wife Howaida El-Gharbawy and his second Dina ‘Dan Adam’ Mustafa started the argument while at a hotel in the upscale Porto Marina resort
The 60-year-old is believed to have fainted while trying to separate the two women
Both women are believed to have been left with cuts and bruises following the vicious scrap, while Hassan, despite briefly losing consciousness, was left unharmed.
His lawyers later told Sky News Arabia, via the Sun, that he was not suffering a health crisis during the incident, and that he remained in good health.
But in the days that followed, Hassan started proceedings to divorce El-Gharbawy, who he has been married to for decades. The couple also share three children.
The 60-year-old has a further two children with second wife Mustafa, who Le Parisien alleges also filed for divorce in the days after the footage went viral on social media.
The Egyptian Football Association ensured that Hassan’s professional life took a similar nosedive, sharing in a statement that his dismissal was due in part to reputational damage the scandal might be doing to the national team.
‘After analysing all the circumstances and events of the past few days, as well as their consequences and the negative impact they have had on the positive image and stability of our national team, the Board of Directors has decided, within the framework of its responsibilities, to dismiss coach Hossam Hassan and his entire technical staff and to end his tenure,’ their statement read.
Mustafa’s lawyer Mohamed Shams gave an interview on Sky News Arabia claiming that his client had been the victim of a ‘premeditated attack’.
‘We hoped it wouldn’t come to divorce, but things escalated to this level.’
Hassan married his second wife in 2015, with Egyptian law allowing Muslim men to marry up to four women, providing that any wives have been formally informed that another marriage is to take place.
The law mandates that the husband is also obligated to treat all of his wives equally with regard to housing, financial support and standard of living.
Hassan had been married to his first wife El-Gharbawy for decades, with the pair sharing three of his five children
Hassan and Mustafa briefly separated four years ago before recoupling before the spat that ended both of his marriages.
As well as being relieved of his duties, Hassan was also sanctioned by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, leaving him unable to publicly address the media following his sacking.
Mohamed Salah and Co will now play their first qualifier of the international break against Malawi under new head coach Ali Maher.
The former Liverpool star could be among those Pharaohs stars privately pleased with the departure of Hassan, after he was benched by his ex-manager for the last two international clashes.
When asked why the superstar and national team captain had been left on the sidelines for the ties, Hassan had said: ‘It is not right for a country of 120 million people for the national team to depend on one player.’
