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The PSG defender was incensed by the referee and took some of that frustration out on the most powerful man in world football
Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi has publicly apologised for his remarks and outburst in the face of FIFA President Gianni Infantino following Morocco’s loss to Croatia in the World Cup third-place playoff.
After Morocco was defeated in the third-place playoff thanks to goals from Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic, tempers threatened to boil over, especially from the Moroccan players who felt that they had been cheated out of a World Cup bronze medal by dodgy refereeing.
At the final whistle, some Moroccan players, including Hakimi, accosted the referees, demanding an explanation for what they felt was a clear penalty that was not given during the match.
Hakimi carried his frustrations into the tunnel, where he was met by FIFA President Infantino and proceeded to give the dignitary a piece of his mind, sparing no room for decency.
After calm heads prevailed, Hakimi saw the error of his ways and has now apologised to Infantino.
“I was angry at the end of the match”
When pressed about the incident, Hakimi was quick to play down the incident to reporters, saying that “Nothing happened,” and he had already apologised to his friend Infantino.
“I was angry after the end of the match. I went to talk to him, and I apologised for the words I said to him. He is my friend and I respect him a lot, so there’s nothing more to say.”
Hakimi and his Moroccan teammates may have been annoyed at losing the third-place playoff, but they will ultimately be satisfied with what is now the greatest ever run by an African team at the World Cup.
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