Egypt national football team manager Hossam Hassan was hospitalized after collapsing during a violent brawl between his two wives at a luxury venue on Egypt's north coast on August 14.
The 60-year-old manager fainted from intense emotional stress while attempting to separate his wives, Howaida Al-Gharbawi and Dan Adam, as their argument escalated into physical violence.
Video footage of the altercation broadcast by regional television network Al-Arabiya showed chairs flying across the establishment in front of astonished patrons, triggering a public scandal across Egypt.
Emergency services and police responded to the scene, treating both women for severe contusions and cuts before transporting Hassan to the hospital by ambulance over concerns his condition could worsen.
Hassan was discharged shortly after receiving emergency treatment and left the medical facility on foot, although witnesses described him as physically and emotionally exhausted.
Divorce proceedings and legal claims
Following his release from hospital, Hassan initiated legal proceedings to divorce his first wife, Al-Gharbawi, whom he married in 1994 and with whom he has four children.
The couple has experienced multiple public marital crises over the decades, most recently signing separation papers in 2022 before reconciling just 10 days later.
Al-Gharbawi initially filed a police complaint against Hassan's second wife, Dan Adam, but withdrew it shortly afterward, while Adam lodged a complaint alleging through her lawyer that she was the victim of a premeditated assault.
Refusing to disclose what caused the conflict or why her husband served her with divorce papers, Al-Gharbawi maintained that household secrets would remain inside the home and would not be revealed even after the divorce.
Background on Egyptian football and law
Hossam Hassan is one of Egyptian football's most prominent figures, having taken charge of the national team after a long career as the country's all-time leading international goalscorer.
Polygamy is legal in Egypt under Islamic family law, which permits men to marry up to four wives under specified legal and religious regulations.
