What happened between Zakaria Aboukhlal, striker of Toulouse FC, and Laurence Arribagé, deputy mayor in charge of sports? According to RMC and AFP, a verbal clash took place between the two individuals on the sidelines of the celebrations of TFC's victory against Nantes in the final of the Coupe de France, on April 29 (1-5).
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Aboukhlal was reportedly a little too loud during a speech on Capitol Hill, which prompted the elected official to ask him to make less noise. "At home, women don't talk like that to men," the 23-year-old Moroccan international reportedly replied. Laurence Arribagé responded to RMC by minimizing the incident, ensuring that there is "no subject".
"Irreproachable behavior at the World Cup"
The TFC has since dismissed Aboukhlal and announced an internal investigation. The coach of Morocco, Walid Regragui, said he was "surprised" by this story, in comments reported by L'Equipe. Regragui swears that Aboukhlal "a respectful boy, with real values and a beautiful education, transmitted by open parents, whom we had the chance to meet during the World Cup in Qatar" last winter.
SEE ALSO – All the goals of Nantes-Toulouse in the final of the Coupe de France on April 29 (1-5)
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Zak had an irreproachable behavior at the World Cup, insists the coach of Morocco, semi-finalist at the last World Cup. Our team manager is a woman, and when she shouted a few screams during the competition, he lowered his head. He has great respect for others.
»Aboukhlal 'strongly denied the altercation'
While he has "nothing to say about his behavior," Regragui concedes, however, that Aboukhlal, who has lived in Morocco and the Netherlands, "does not speak French, and I had already told him that he had to learn it quickly to better control his environment." Finally, the Moroccan coach ensures that the player has contacted him. "He firmly denied this altercation with the elected representative," says Regragui.
A native of Corbeil-Essonnes and a former pro player in France, Regragui did not comment on Aboukhlal's refusal to wear the rainbow flocking jersey on the last day of Ligue 1. Accused of homophobia following this refusal, the Toulouse had justified himself by asking for the respect of his "personal beliefs".