Morocco Coach Defends Hakimi After 1-0 Win as French Court Orders Rape Trial
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 20
Morocco Coach Defends Hakimi After 1-0 Win as French Court Orders Rape Trial
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 20
Summary
Mohamed Ouahbi backed Achraf Hakimi after the Morocco captain was booed throughout Friday’s 1-0 World Cup win over Scotland, saying the team stood behind him and that he remained focused.
Hours before kickoff, a Versailles appeal court said Hakimi must stand trial over allegations he raped a 24-year-old woman at his home in 2023, intensifying scrutiny around the PSG defender.
Parts of the crowd whistled when Morocco’s lineup was announced and again whenever Hakimi touched the ball, but Ouahbi said the squad did not discuss the case and preferred to judge his performance on the field.
Hakimi has denied the accusation, French reports said he had appealed an earlier investigating judge’s decision, and he wrote on social media after Friday’s ruling that he would “at last” be able to speak.