Investigating the Viral Photos of Morocco's Stars
In a recent turn of events surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, social media accounts claimed that Moroccan national team players were seen mimicking Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan's gesture during Egypt's match against Argentina. This gesture, which involves crossing one's arms to form an 'X', was reportedly a call for intervention against racism, as permitted by FIFA protocols. As the match unfolded, this moment sparked discussions when Hassan used the signal during a controversial phase of the game.
The images circulated widely, showing Hassan alongside several members of Morocco's team, including coach Mohamed Wahbi, as well as prominent players like Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou. The misleading captions accompanying these photos suggested that they were a show of solidarity with Egypt, following what was described as blatant officiating errors by the French referee and the VAR technology. The message proclaimed, "No to Racism... A supportive gesture from the Atlas Lions to the Egyptian team," which resonated well with many Arab fans who felt the need to address the perceived injustices faced by Egypt.
Fact-Checking the Claims
However, a thorough investigation by CNN Arabic revealed that the photos of the Moroccan players were not recent and had no connection to the events of the match between Egypt and Argentina. A reverse image search traced these pictures back to June 6, when they were first published during what appeared to be a photoshoot for the Moroccan national team. Numerous posts from that date featured the same images of Morocco's team leaders, which were later repurposed to create a viral sensation when combined with a picture of Hossam Hassan.
The timing of the photo's circulation coincided with heightened discussions regarding the officiating during Egypt's match against Argentina, which ended in a 3-2 defeat for the Pharaohs, making the context of the images even more significant. This incident highlights the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly, particularly in the emotionally charged environment of international sports.
As reported by arabic.cnn.com.
