Regragui in support of Aboukhlal, suspended after an alleged altercation with an elected official

While Zakaria Aboukhlal is suspected of having been involved in an altercation with Laurence Arribagé, sports assistant at the town hall of Toulouse on the sidelines of the festivities linked to the victory in the Coupe de France, Walid Regragui spoke on the subject: “With my staff, we were totally surprised, disconcerted, says Walid Regragui from Morocco. If there is a good player that we do not imagine in this type of story, it is Zak ‘. He is a respectful boy, with real values ​​and a good education, transmitted by open parents, whom we had the chance to meet during the World Cup in Qatar. »

Already confronted with the thorny Achraf Hakimi affair (indicted for rape at the beginning of March), Walid Regragui invites to respect the presumption of innocence for his 23-year-old player and does not extend on the merits of Toulouse’s history: “I’m just surprised at the timing. We risk being on word against word, in the end. I didn’t hear from anyone from the club, but Zak called me: he firmly denied this altercation with the chosen one. »

According to information from RMC Sport and confirmed by AFP, Aboukhlal would have attacked the sports assistant of the town hall of Toulouse while the elected official would have summoned several Toulouse players, including the Moroccan international, to do less of noise while a speech was made, on the sidelines of the festivities of the victory in the Coupe de France of the TFC. “At home, women don’t talk like that to men”, would then have answered the Lion of the Atlas. Later, the Toulousain would have gone to see her to ask her to apologize.

“Zak had an irreproachable behavior at the World Cup, continues the coach of Morocco. Our team manager is a woman, and when she gave a few shouts during the competition, he lowered his head. He has great respect for others, he was proud to represent his country and to be part of the group, even after his goal against Belgium, he never took himself for another, he’s a good guy, a anything but pretentious kid. Nothing to say about his behavior. Afterwards, he does not speak French, and I had already told him that he had to learn it quickly to better master his environment. »

To illustrate his words, Regragui highlights a facet that the TFC striker conceals: “He has been fighting for a long time to save children in Morocco. He finances an orphanage in Casablanca with his bonuses, as well as a nearby football pitch with an association. He has this social fiber and this desire to help, to get kids out of poverty. This is why I am shocked by the Zakaria that is depicted: it is a thousand miles from the one we all know. »

Internal investigation at the TFC

An internal investigation has been opened by the club, which indicated on Tuesday that it refused to comment further on this matter. Zakaria Aboukhlal was dismissed Monday evening from collective sessions by his club pending the outcome of the investigation.