Dallas police officers and staff from the Egypt national soccer team were involved in a physical altercation and shouting match on Thursday in a hotel lobby. Videos of the incident show at least two officers and several team staff members in a dispute.
The confrontation began when an officer approached a staff member who was with a player posing for a photo with a fan. The officer touched the staff member on the arm, leading to an exchange of words and then shouting from the officer, "Back off! Back off! Back off!"
Pushing and shoving ensued behind a roped-off area. The officer was seen pointing his finger into the staff member's chest. Another member of the Egyptian delegation intervened to separate the two individuals. The officer appeared to reach for something on his belt near his firearm.
According to Yahoo, the staffer involved was team director Ibrahim Hassan, brother of head coach Hossam Hassan. The Egyptian Independent reported, citing a source, that the altercation stemmed from "organizers’ poor handling of the Egyptian fans." The report indicated that fans were eager to take photos with players, and security intervened aggressively, which angered Hassan.
The incident reportedly de-escalated within a minute, and the Egyptian team members departed the lobby. No injuries or arrests were reported.
The Egyptian Football Association characterized the event as a "minor altercation that ended quickly." A statement per the Voice of Emirates said Hassan's actions were intended "to protect the child and prevent him from coming to any harm."
Egypt is scheduled to play Australia in a Round of 32 match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.