2026 WorldMorocco Coach Backs Hakimi After Jeers At World Cup Match
FOXBOROUGH (Massachusetts), June 20 (Bernama-dpa) -- Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has come to the defence of Achraf Hakimi after the captain was booed and jeered during Friday's 1-0 World Cup victory against Scotland, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
The game took place a few hours after a court in France announced that Paris Saint-Germain's Hakimi has to stand trial on rape charges.
Hakimi was whistled and booed by parts of the crowd when the Morocco line-up was announced. The same happened every time he touched the ball.
"We didn't talk about it and we don't have to. We are behind him. Hopefully he will show at this World Cup that he is the best right back in the world," Ouahbi said.
Teammates did not want to comment on the case, and Ouahbi preferred to see the sporting side.
"Hakimi was very strong. We are very relaxed, he is also relaxed and playing well," he said.
A Versailles appeal court said earlier Friday that Hakimi has to stand trial on charges of having raped a 24-year-old woman at his home in 2023.
French reports said that Hakimi had appealed against an earlier decision from an investigating judge.
Hakimi has denied the accusations and said on social media after the court decision that “at last, I will be able to speak.”
-- BERNAMA-dpa
