Morocco coach says he dropped Ziyech for “unacceptable behaviour”

Morocco head coach Vahid Halilhodzic says he dropped Hakim Ziyech due to the Chelsea winger’s unacceptable behaviour when he was on international duty in June.

Ziyech was left out of Morocco’s squad for their 2020 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Sudan on Thursday and Guinea next Monday.

The 28-year-old came off the bench in a 1-0 friendly win over Ghana three months ago before starting in a victory by the same scoreline against Burkina Faso.

Halilhodzic has explained he dropped the former Ajax man due to his conduct the last time he was called up.

“His behaviour in the last two matches, especially the last one, was not that of a national team player who as a leader in the team has to be a positive role model,” Halilhodzic said.

“He arrived late and, after that, he even refused to work. There was no point in discussing it afterwards, as a coach the answer is right there to see. For me, the national team is above everything, nobody can hold it hostage.”

Halilhodzic said Ziyech refused to play against Ghana, saying he was not fully fit, and did not want to come off the bench.

He added: “For the first time in my coaching career, I have seen behaviour that disappoints me. A player who refuses to play a game, admittedly a friendly, on the pretext that he is injured.

“The medical staff made several examinations and said he could play. He then refused to warm up in the second half because he was disappointed to be a substitute. For me, that type of behaviour is unacceptable.

“You can’t cheat with the national team. You are 100 per cent there or you are not.”

Former Morocco coach, Herve Renard, left Ziyech out of his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2017.

Ziyech stated that he would not play for his country while Renard was in charge, but returned in September 2017 to win a first cap for almost a year.