The World football governing body has changed its press conference translation rules just a day after awkward viral moments following exchanges between captain of Moroccan football team Achraf Hakimi and journalists prior to Morocco-Brazil clash.
A clip spread on social media after a FIFA official denied a Mexican journalist from asking a question in Spanish to Hakimi, who speaks Spanish, French and Arabic.
The Moroccan star was eager to respond in Spanish, a language he speaks fluently, despite the FIFA official maintaining that it was not possible due to translation resources. “It’s OK, I understand,” said Hakimi, while encouraging the journalist to ask him a question in Spanish. “I can respond in English, if you prefer?”
Hakimi then turned to the FIFA official: “How should I reply, in English or Spanish?” Hakimi then eloquently answered in English at the request of the FIFA official.
The previous rules ensure an English translation alongside the languages of the two participating teams, with Arabic and Portuguese for that particular Group C including Morocco, Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.
After this incident, the FIFA has changed the policy and decided that Spanish will be made available as a fourth language at press conferences.
