Riyad Mahrez Defuses Controversy, Cites Moroccan Heritage to Ease Tensions

Mahrez’s reaction, in response to the tweet of a French journalist who felt that he had unintentionally caused a crisis, did not wait. "Originally, there is no controversy. Even my mother is Moroccan, and we are one people. Only, we prefer to remain ourselves."

In a live on Instagram with the BeinSport journalist, the Algerian international, Riyad Mahrez, had provoked the indignation of a section of Moroccan public opinion, by declaring that Moroccans would not like Algeria to win.

The remark had earned him the wrath of the media and part of the Internet users who believe that Moroccans had on the contrary celebrated in great pomp, during Algeria’s triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations.