Morocco coach backs Achraf Hakimi amid French investigation
PSG's Achraf Hakimi, left, challenges for the ball with Bayern's Alphonso Davies during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Credit: AP/Andreas Schaad
SALE, Morocco — Although implicated in a rape allegation in France, Achraf Hakimi was called into the Morocco squad Monday for friendly games against Brazil and Peru.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui said the country supports the Paris Saint-Germain defender.
“For us, and all Moroccans, we are behind Achraf,” Regragui said at a news conference to announce his first squad since the team’s historic run to the World Cup semifinals. “He has the presumption of innocence until it’s proven to the contrary.”
Hakimi was given preliminary charges of rape on March 3 by prosecutors in the suburb of Nanterre. A 24-year-old woman said she was raped by Hakimi at his home, though his lawyer said it is part of a racketeering attempt.
Hakimi has been allowed to leave France and played for PSG at Bayern Munich last week in the Champions League.
Morocco will host Brazil in Tangier on March 25 and then play Peru in Madrid three days later.
“I speak with Achraf often like I do lots of players,” Regragui said when asked Monday about Hakimi. “He’s calm, that’s most important. He’s someone who is strong on the pitch and beyond the pitch.
FILE - Morocco's Achraf Hakimi reacts during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between Croatia and Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. French prosecutors said Friday that Paris Saint-Germain defender and Morocco international star Achraf Hakimi has been indicted on rape charges. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File) Credit: AP/Hassan Ammar
“We have to think of football first,” the coach said. “He has people taking care of his business for him.”
Morocco became the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals last year. The team beat Belgium in the group stage and then Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds. Morocco lost to France in the semifinals before being beaten by Croatia in the third-place game.
Hakimi’s standout performances in Qatar earned him selection for the World XI team in a poll of players organized by global union FIFPRO.
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