Aug 19, 2026, 01:09 IST
Egypt manager Hossam Hassan has been caught up in an extraordinary off-field incident after his two wives were reportedly involved in a physical altercation at a hotel on Egypt’s North Coast, with Hassan said to have collapsed while attempting to intervene before later divorcing his first wife.The incident reportedly happened at a cafe inside an upscale hotel in Marina El Alamein, where Hassan was on holiday. Howaida Al-Gharbawy, his longtime wife, and Dina Mostafa, also known as Dan Adam, his second wife, became involved in an argument that escalated into a physical confrontation in front of other holidaymakers.
Hassan reportedly collapses while trying to intervene
According to Spanish outlet Cadena SER, Hassan attempted to step between the two women and defuse the confrontation but apparently collapsed amid the stress of the incident. Egyptian outlet Al Arabiya subsequently reported that he had divorced Howaida in the aftermath.The account was disputed, however. Sky News Arabia reported that Hassan’s lawyer denied rumours that the Egypt manager had suffered a health crisis and said he was in good health.The altercation reportedly continued despite relatives and security personnel attempting to intervene, eventually requiring police involvement. The two women were reported to have suffered cuts and bruises, while video footage of the confrontation circulated on social media.Mohamed Shams, the lawyer representing Dan Adam, told Sky News Arabia: “We hoped it wouldn’t come to divorce, but things escalated to this level.” Shams also claimed that his client had been the victim of a “premeditated attack” during the holiday.Ahmed Hamad, representing Howaida’s family, declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding the separation and said the family was maintaining media silence.
Hassan and Howaida had been together for decades
Hassan had been married to Howaida for decades and they have three children together. The couple briefly separated for 10 days in 2022 before reconciling.He married Dan Adam in 2015 while still married to Howaida. Under Egyptian law, a Muslim man can legally have up to four wives simultaneously, while existing wives must receive official notification of a subsequent marriage. The law also requires a husband practising polygamy to treat his wives equally in matters including housing, financial support and living standards.Following the reported incident, Hassan is said to have formally divorced Howaida at a legal registrar’s office in Cairo. The circumstances surrounding the decision have not been publicly detailed by Howaida’s representatives.
Hassan’s year had already been dominated by football
The incident comes only weeks after Hassan led Egypt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the team reached the last 16 before losing 3-2 to Argentina in Atlanta on July 7.Hassan, who has been Egypt’s head coach since 2024, also attracted attention during the tournament for his outspoken criticism of FIFA and claims that the governing body had shown bias towards Lionel Messi and Argentina.He subsequently renewed his contract with the Egyptian national team, keeping him in the position until 2030.The latest incident has instead placed Hassan’s private life at the centre of attention, with conflicting reports over his reported collapse and the circumstances surrounding his divorce leaving much of the episode dependent on accounts from those involved.
