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Football

30th Jun 2018

Moroccan World Cup footballer involved in fatal hit-and-run

Matthew Gault

Awful news

Moroccan footballer Amine Harit has reportedly been involved in a hit-and-run car accident which killed a pedestrian.

Police in Marrakech have confirmed (via Breaking the Lines) the Schalke midfielder, who turned 21 earlier in June, was driving the car following reports that his 14-year-old brother had been behind the wheel.

Initial reports claimed that Harit had allowed his brother to drive his car at a high speed, who proceeded to crash into a 28-year-old pedestrian.

Bystanders stopped Harit and his brother from fleeing the scene.

Harit was part of Morocco’s unsuccessful World Cup campaign, starting in the 1-0 defeat to Iran but being dropped to the bench for the subsequent games against Spain and Portugal.

The French-born midfielder was included in the Atlas Lions’ squad for Russia after a breakthrough season for Bundesliga side Schalke in which the club secured a return to the Champions League.

According to reports, Harit is prohibited from leaving Morocco. His passport has been confiscated by police and he has been released on bail as police continue to investigate the incident.

The news has since been corroborated by his club Schalke, who released a statement on Saturday to confirm that Harit was involved in the accident, and offer their condolences to the family of the victim.