CONTROVERSIA
Portrait of Hakim Ziyech

Photo: Кирилл Венедиктов · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Born in Netherlands · Nationality Moroccan — Sport / football / public statements

Hakim Ziyech

Sport

Documented profile covering 6 controversies, including “Conflict with Vahid Halilhodžić: allegations of 'unacceptable' behaviour and temporary withdrawal from national team” and “Gaza: public attack on Moroccan government over cooperation with Israel”.

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Profile No. 0634 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Hakim Ziyech

Photo: Кирилл Венедиктов · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
6Documented controversies
11Sources
0Formal charge · all time
0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

2026

2026: public confrontation with Itamar Ben-Gvir over Israeli death penalty law

No legal proceedings

After Israel adopted a controversial law extending the death penalty to certain Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks, Ziyech attacked Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Instagram. Ben-Gvir publicly accused him of antisemitism and verbally threatened him; Ziyech responded that 'Zionism does not frighten us'. The exchange prompted significant debate in Morocco and the Arab world.

State of the evidence
Documented
Legal status — source text
Not applicable
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    Al Jazeera"زياش وكل معادي السامية لن يفلتوا".. بن غفير يتوعد النجم المغربيMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Al Jazeera"الصهيونية لا تخيفنا".. المغربي حكيم زياش يتحدى تهديدات بن غفيرMediaHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    ReutersIsrael passes death penalty law for Palestinians convicted of lethal attacksNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 18 August 2026

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02

2024-2025

Turkey: public tax notice for TRY 23.68 million, with Galatasaray claiming contractual responsibility

Civil / administrative proceedings

A public notice from the Istanbul tax administration dated 28 June 2025 recorded in Hakim Ziyech's name a debt relating to 2024 of TRY 21,196,685.39 in principal and TRY 2,480,012.19 in late-payment charges, totalling TRY 23,676,697.58. The notice was published after attempts to serve it at known addresses failed.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    İstanbul Defterdarlığı — avis officiel reproduit par A HaberİSTANBUL DEFTERDARLIĞINDAN İLANEN TEBLİĞOfficial documentHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    AjanssporHakim Ziyech gitti ama derdi bitmedi! Dev borç...PressMedium reliability

Last verified: 18 August 2026

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03

2024

Gaza: public attack on Moroccan government over cooperation with Israel

No legal proceedings

Ziyech publicly attacked the Moroccan government over its cooperation with Israel during the war in Gaza, going so far as to write 'Shame on my government' in a widely shared post. The statement created an unusual political controversy for a national team star.

State of the evidence
Documented
Legal status — source text
Not applicable
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Le MondeAu Maroc, la rue se mobilise pour Gaza, le pouvoir maintient sa coopération avec IsraëlMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 18 August 2026

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04

2024

Morocco-Zambia: conspicuous anger after substitution and debate over national team behaviour

No legal proceedings

During the Morocco-Zambia match on 7 June 2024, Ziyech conspicuously expressed his displeasure after being substituted, gesticulating and then throwing his boots onto the ground. The scene prompted criticism from supporters and media controversy over respect for the coach's decisions.

State of the evidence
Documented
Legal status — source text
Not applicable
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    SNRT NewsCe qu’a dit Walid Regragui sur la réaction de ZiyechMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Al Jazeeraغضب زياش والنصيري وتبرير الركراكي.. ماذا يحدث في منتخب المغرب؟MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 18 August 2026

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05

2024

Galatasaray: public break with Okan Buruk and attack on his own club

No legal proceedings

In December 2024, while receiving little playing time, Ziyech publicly declared that Galatasaray was 'finished' for him, said he regretted his transfer and attacked coach Okan Buruk, whom he described as the worst coach he had known. The statement reinforced the impression of a complete breakdown with the club before his departure in January 2025.

State of the evidence
Documented
Legal status — source text
Not applicable
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Cadena SERZiyech firma la rajada del siglo contra su propio equipoMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    talkSPORT'I don't want to play here' - Ex-Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech makes stunning revelationMediaMedium reliability

Last verified: 18 August 2026

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06

2021-2022

Conflict with Vahid Halilhodžić: allegations of 'unacceptable' behaviour and temporary withdrawal from national team

No legal proceedings

Coach Vahid Halilhodžić excluded Hakim Ziyech, accusing him of a poor attitude, refusing to train and unacceptable behaviour. The conflict led Ziyech to announce that he would no longer play for Morocco while the coach remained in charge.

State of the evidence
Disputed
Legal status — source text
Not applicable
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    ReutersCoach says Ziyech was left out Morocco squad because of poor behaviourNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 18 August 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (1)
  1. Itamar Ben-Gvir1 documented reference

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