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Rabat – Moroccan footballer Zakaria Aboukhlal has commented on the claims attributed to him by French sports news outlet RMC Sports.
Earlier this week, the outlet started a controversy after it accused the Toulouse FC player of making “misogynistic” remarks against deputy mayor in charge of sports Laurence Arribage.
The outlet claimed that the footballer made the remarks following Arribage’s request of him and other teammates to make “less noise” during a speech by the team’s head coach.
According to the RMC Sport report, Aboukhlal “dismissed” the request and told the deputy mayor: “At home, women don’t talk like that to men.”
Arribage, however, has denied the claims about Aboukhlal’s alleged remarks.
Despite this, the news outlet has maintained its claims targeting the Atlas Lion, alleging that the altercation between Aboukhlal and Arribage “took place in front of several witnesses.”
Commenting on the accusations, Aboukhlal said today in a tweet: “Following the article published by RMC on Monday, May 15th, I had the opportunity to meet and discuss with Laurence Arribage. During the meeting, we both confirmed the RMC SPORT reports do not match what has really happened on 30th of April at the Capitole,” Aboukhlal argued.
The Atlas Lion also emphasized the need to put an “end” to the controversy, which has “strongly affected both of us as well as our families.”
The player also called on people following the case to respect their decision.
Read Also: Zakaria Aboukhlal’s Case Suggests France’s Witch Hunt Against Moroccan Players
Many have expressed support for Aboukhlal, including Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui – who emphasized that the claims made by RMC against the football player do not reflect his principles.
“Zak called me; he firmly denied having had an altercation with the appointed mayor,” Regragui said, noting that “if there is a good player that we do not imagine in this type of story, it is Zak.”
Commenting on the player’s principles, the coach said that the player is “a respectful young man with a strong upbringing and genuine values transmitted by open parents, whom we had the chance to meet during the World Cup in Qatar.”
