Former Morocco Captain Benatia Defends Mahrez Over Controversial Comments

In a video posted on social media, the Atlas Lion tried to defend the Fennec, arguing that the latter was not targeting the Moroccan people, but Moroccans living in the Paris region.

Describing the incident as a simple misunderstanding, Benatia announced that "where Riyad and I grew up, there was always friction between the two camps. Both Moroccans and Algerians couldn’t stand each other."

The central defender called on the Moroccan public to avoid fanning the flames of a controversy aimed at creating a rift between the two peoples, knowing that Riyad Mahrez’s mother is of Moroccan origin.