The decision of Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech, playmaker for Chelsea FC, has stirred considerable debate within sports circles on Tuesday, as he confirmed he has ended his international career with the Moroccan national team due to issues he experienced with national coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who sidelined him from the “Atlas Lions” squad citing indiscipline.
Ziyech has decided to retire and is prompting a reaction from the sports community. In a statement to “Hesport” during Chelsea's training camp in Abu Dhabi in preparation for the Club World Cup, Ziyech confirmed that he will not return to the national team. He indicated that his current focus is on his English club and he is aware of the dynamics within the senior national team.
The sports community reacted strongly to Ziyech's decision, leading to a split among fans of national football and the team. Some believe that Ziyech has not contributed significantly to the national team during his tenure with the “Atlas Lions,” blaming him for the conflict with the Bosnian coach. On the other hand, a large portion of fans has criticized the national team's coach, asserting that he bears full responsibility for denying the Moroccan team a player who is considered one of the standout Arab names in major European leagues due to his stubbornness and failure to resolve the ongoing issues with Ziyech.
There have been calls from some Moroccan fans on social media for Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, to intervene and persuade Ziyech to reconsider his decision and return to the Moroccan national team, considering him a key player who can significantly contribute to the “Atlas Lions.” They noted that the Moroccan player preferred to represent his national colors over the Netherlands, despite pressure from the latter.
It is worth mentioning that Vahid Halilhodzic has repeatedly stated that Hakim Ziyech is an undisciplined player and that he will not reinstate him in the Moroccan national team; this followed Ziyech's exclusion from recent matches, including the Africa Cup of Nations held recently in Cameroon, which angered the player.
