Hakimi apologises to ´friend´ Infantino after confrontation with FIFA president

Achraf Hakimi has apologised to Gianni Infantino following his confrontation with the FIFA president.

The Morocco defender reportedly questioned Infantino on the level of officiating at the World Cup following the Atlas Lions’ defeat by Croatia in the third-place play-off.

Walid Regragui’s side were denied a potential penalty against the 2018 runners-up when Youssef En-Nesyri’s header hit Bruno Petkovic, while Ibrahima Konate’s challenge on Sofiane Boufal also went unpunished in the semi-final loss to France.

But Hakimi, who also confronted referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim, has since expressed remorse over the incident, with the Paris Saint-Germain full-back acknowledging his frustration had boiled over.

شكرا يا أسود الأطلس شرفتمونا أفضل تشريف وصنعتم التاريخ في قطر
Thank you for giving it all, thank you for MAKING US PROUD, thank you for making HISTORYpic.twitter.com/9AIxIB1izA

— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) December 17, 2022

“Nothing happened,” he told reporters. “I was angry after the end of the match. I went to talk to him, and I apologised for the words I said to him. He is my friend and I respect him a lot, so nothing happened.”

Morocco became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals, having topped Group F ahead of Belgium of Croatia, before overcoming Spain and Portugal in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.