A frustrated Hakimi following the defeat took aim at the referee and even FIFA boss Infantino, who presented the Croatians with medals moments later. Reporters on the pitch in the catacombs of Khalifa Stadium noted how Hakimi, born and raised in Spain, stood “less than five centimeters” from the president of the World Football Federation and “ranted” at the referee.
“Nothing happened, I was furious but I went to see him followingwards and apologized for the words I said to him,” Hakimi told Moroccan media of the incident. “Infantino is my friend and I respect him a lot. Nothing happened.”
