PSG star Achraf Hakimi is BOOED by Israeli side Maccabi Haifa fans having previously expressed pro-Palestine views, as the defender cups his ear to the jeering supporters after coming off the bench in Champions League clash
- PSG sealed a 3-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League last night
- Maccabi crowd jeered Hakimi when he came off the bench in the 83rd minute
- The 23-year-old touched his ears in reply to loud boos by the home supporters
- The Moroccan international has been a vocal advocate of Palestinian rights
Paris Saint Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi was booed during their Champions League match against the Israeli club Maccabi Haifa.
The 23-year-old right-back came off the bench to replace Nordi Mukiele in the 83rd minute and was jeered by the home fans as he has been a vocal advocate of Palestinian rights.
The Moroccan international Hakimi touched his ear in reply to loud boos by the home fans.
Hakimi is an avid supporter of the Palestinian cause and showcased his support on Twitter last year when residents of the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood were evicted by the Israeli government.
It is not the first time Hakimi has been targeted by supporters as he was also booed in Tel Aviv earlier this year when PSG faced FC Nantes for the Trophee des Champions.
PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi touched his ear in reply to loud boos by Maccabi Haifa fans
Hakimi showed his support last year when residents of the Sheikh Jarrah were evicted
Israel and Palestine have been involved in horrific clashes for numerous years and tensions between the two escalated drastically last year.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine heightened after Hamas aimed missiles towards Jerusalem in August, with Israeli forces responding by raining down on the Gaza Strip with air strikes of their own.
The week of violence was the worst seen between Palestine and Israel since 2014.
Both sides were urged to ease tensions by nations around the world as thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee from their homes. More than 400 people are thought to have died in the strikes in August.
More recently, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) conducted some 147 airstrikes in Gaza and Palestinian militants fired approximately 1,100 rockets towards Israel last month.
Smoke rises from a building following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on August 6, 2022
The death toll from a week of fighting stood at 211 on Monday, with 201 dead on the Palestinian side according to Gaza’s health authority, including 58 children and 34 women.
On the pitch, PSG sealed a 3-1 win over Maccabi Haifa in their second Champions League group-stage match thanks to goals from Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar – despite a nervy start.
Midfielder Tjaronn Chery volleyed in a cross in the 24th minute to give the hosts a shock early 1-0 lead at the Sammy Ofer Stadium.
Messi levelled the score just before half-time, converting from eight yards after Mbappe’s cross, meaning the Argentina international has now scored against 39 different teams in the Champions League.
Lionel Messi (right) scored against a 39th different Champions League team in PSG’s 3-1 win
Kylian Mbappe completed the comeback with 21 minutes left, scoring a fine angled finish
Late on Neymar (right) was able to get in on the act to ensure victory was heading to France
Mbappe completed the comeback with 21 minutes left, scoring a fine angled finish, before Neymar sealed the deal.
The Brazilian latched onto Marco Verratti’s lofted pass from midfield in the 88th, controlled the ball on his right thigh and drilled it in to end a barren run in the Champions League dating back to December 2020.
PSG remain unbeaten in the Champions League as they sit top of Group H, level on points with Benfica.
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