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Join on Telegram Rabat – German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has commented on the controversial tackle by his Bayern Munich teammate Luis Diaz on Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi during a recent match against Paris Saint-Germain.
The incident, which led to Diaz being sent off, has sparked debate over whether the red card was justified.
Neuer, speaking to the media after the game, said he was informed that the tackle wasn’t overly violent. “I was told it wasn’t a harsh challenge,” he said. “But it was still considered a foul worthy of a red card. I didn’t see it clearly from my position, so I can’t judge it fully.”
He also expressed frustration with how the referee handled the situation. “If the referee wants to send a player off, he should just do it. There’s no need to call me out of goal just to tell me the decision,” Neuer added. “We have a captain on the pitch who can speak with him.”
The tackle resulted in a serious injury for Hakimi, who suffered a severe sprain in his left ankle. According to PSG’s medical team, he will be sidelined for up to eight weeks.
This raises concerns about his availability for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.
Hakimi is a key player in Morocco’s national team and played a major role in their historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
His absence would be a major blow to the squad, especially with expectations high as Morocco haven’t won the trophy since 1976.
As AFCON approaches, fans will be watching closely to see if Hakimi can recover in time to captain his team on home soil.
