Coach Hossam Hassan celebrates after the World Cup Round of 32 match against Australia as Egypt qualify for the Round of 16 on July 3, 2026. Photo by Reuters

The EFA announced on Saturday that the board voted to sack Hassan in line with his contract’s terms, citing damage to the team’s image following the scandal, according to The New Arab.

Hassan will be replaced by Ali Maher, who is currently in charge of the Egyptian Premier League club Ceramica Cleopatra.

The association’s board of directors finalized the change in management after a meeting to discuss the negative media coverage surrounding Hassan’s private life.

The dismissal comes just days after Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation officially banned Hassan from appearing on television shows and giving interviews due to a media storm surrounding a brawl between his two wives in August.

Video footage of a physical altercation between the two women at a luxury hotel cafe in Egypt’s North Coast spread rapidly across social media. What began as a heated verbal argument rapidly escalated into a physical confrontation, prompting passers-by to call the police. Hassan struggled to calm the situation and eventually lost consciousness amid the intense brawl, The Sun reported.

The incident became a major topic of discussion across both media outlets and the sports industry.

Local media later reported that Hassan officially divorced his first wife, Howaida al-Gharbawy, after the incident.

Despite his turbulent personal life, Hassan had been praised for his success with the national team. The former international striker led Egypt to the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, guiding the country to the knockout stage of the tournament for the very first time in history.

Following the managerial change, the EFA has called on Egyptian football fans to continue their support and rally behind the national team during this transitional period.