After justifying the severe acts of violence against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam, former Chelsea star and Moroccan national team captain Hakim Ziyech, who plays for Turkish side Galatasaray, became a hero in his country.
On Saturday, Wydad Casablanca fans showed support for the player, displaying a large tifo that read "Hakim Ziyech, a man of principles." Ziyech himself was proud of the tribute and shared it on social media.
In response to the violence against Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam and the widely distributed videos of the incidents, Ziyech posted a story on his Instagram account on Friday with the caption: "If it’s not women and children then they run away. And STILL FREE PALESTINA."
Maccabi Tel Aviv star striker Eran Zahavi responded to him, writing, "Stupid terror supporter. I hope you see it and punish him," tagging UEFA's official account. Ziyech responded with three smiling emojis.
This is not the first time that Ziyech has spoken out against Israel. At Galatasaray's last championship celebration, he waved the Palestinian flag, and a few days after the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, he wrote on Instagram: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
Wydad's cross-city rival, Raja Casablanca, is also known for pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli stances. Last month, fans waved a picture of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the IDF. The team's fan pages shared posts reading, "Yahya Sinwar, leader of the Palestinian revolution" and "Yahya Sinwar lived as a hero and died as a legend."
The fans of both teams usually sing at matches: "Gaza, even though you are far from us, you will never walk alone" and wave Palestinian flags despite peaceful relations between Morocco and Israel.
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