Boos for Hakimi, belief in Morocco: World Cup captain ‘totally unfazed’ as rape trial looms

FOXBOROUGH, June 20 — Achraf Hakimi walked out for Morocco’s World Cup clash against Scotland carrying more than just the captain’s armband.

Hours after a French appeals court confirmed he must stand trial on rape charges he denies, the Paris Saint-Germain defender was greeted by whistles and boos from sections of the 64,000-strong crowd at Gillette Stadium near Boston.

The jeers followed him throughout the match, with some supporters booing whenever he touched the ball.

Yet while the crowd made its feelings known, Morocco’s dressing room presented a very different picture.

“He was there in the dressing room, focused and determined to put in a big performance. He did that, and so there is nothing to say. We are behind him, and he is very calm, totally unfazed,” coach Mohamed Ouahbi said after the game, AFP reported today.

The 27-year-old is accused of raping a 24-year-old woman at his home in the Paris region in 2023.

Hakimi has consistently denied the allegation and appealed against an earlier decision ordering him to stand trial.

Yesterday, a court in Versailles rejected that appeal, paving the way for the case to proceed.

In a brief social media response after the ruling, Hakimi wrote: “At last, I will be able to speak.”

Morocco’s players largely avoided discussing the case, but Ouahbi repeatedly defended his captain and sought to keep the focus on football.

“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,” the coach said, German news agency dpa reported separately.

Hakimi completed the full match as Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 thanks to Ismael Saibari’s goal after just 71 seconds, the fastest strike of the tournament so far.

The result left Morocco with four points from two matches after opening their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, putting the 2022 semi-finalists firmly on course for the knockout rounds.

“He will play more great games. He is the best right-back in the world and he is going to show that at this World Cup,” Ouahbi told AFP.

For one night at least, Morocco’s World Cup ambitions remained on track even as the controversy surrounding their captain followed him from a French courtroom to football’s biggest stage.