Egypt says Dallas officer shoved Trezeguet and team director at hotel

Egypt’s national team said a Dallas police officer pushed player Trezeguet and team director Ibrahim Hassan during an attempt to take a photo with a fan at the World Cup. The account prompted the Dallas Police Department to respond publicly, saying officers had been called to a hotel over access and credential concerns.

Reuters reported that local media said the incident took place Friday at the Egyptian team hotel. Egypt played Australia the same day in the World Cup round of 32 in Dallas, during the tournament cohosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Mohamed Morad, the national team’s media officer, told Reuters that a man and his son asked to take a picture with Hassan and Trezeguet. Morad said Hassan agreed to the request.

According to Morad’s account to Reuters, a security officer then stepped in and pushed the fan, Trezeguet and Hassan. Morad said the player and the team director were in an area assigned to them when the incident happened.

Morad told Reuters that Hassan asked the officer to treat the fan in an ordinary manner. Egypt’s account did not describe any injury, arrest or disciplinary action.

The Dallas Police Department said in a statement on social media that it knew of a video circulating online showing a tense exchange involving one of its officers. The department said police had gone to an area hotel after hotel security asked for help with an individual who did not have event credentials and was trying to enter.

Police said they later learned that the people involved were not displaying credentials correctly, which the department described as a requirement. The department did not name Trezeguet, Hassan or the fan in the statement.

DPD said the matter was settled at the scene. The department also said it met with representatives of the team to discuss their concerns and that the issue had been resolved.

The episode unfolded as teams, officials and security staff handle access controls around the World Cup, which is being staged across North America. Reuters reported the competing accounts from Egypt’s team and Dallas police after the video drew attention on social media.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.