World Cup 2022: French police hunt suspect in World Cup hit-and-run death

Police are on the hunt for a driver who struck and killed a teenage boy celebrating France’s World Cup victory over Morrocco.

Dayot Upamecano’s place in France semi-final side is in doubt. Picture: AFP Images

French police in the southern city of Montpellier sought the driver who struck and killed a 14-year-old boy celebrating France’s World Cup victory before fleeing the scene.

Video on social media showed a white hatchback surrounded by fans which speeds away when someone tears down a flag hanging out of its rear window.

“The driver violently left the line of cars and hit a 14-year-old boy,” who later died of his injuries at a hospital, the local prosecutors’ office said.

The car was found abandoned nearby, and the police investigation is “progressing rapidly”, it said.

The tragedy marred France’s victory over Morocco to reach the championship’s finals, with most celebrations across the country good-natured though with scattered incidents of unrest.

French Police are hunting the suspect in a World Cup hit-and-run death

“Aymen’s death has plunged us into a terrifying ordeal,” the boy’s family said in a statement published at its request by city authorities in Montpellier.

“We call for complete calm and express our confidence in the police and judiciary,” it said.

The accident occurred in the Paillade district, one of the poorer areas of Montpellier, whose Mayor Michael Delafosse tweeted that he hoped “the people who carried out this awful act are found and put on trial”.

Local MP Nathalie Oziol expressed “immense sadness, a sporting event ends in absolute tragedy”.

WORLD CUP CARNAGE: CHAOTIC SCENES AFTER FRANCE TRIUMPH

There were jubilant and chaotic scenes on the Champs-Elysees in central Paris on as French supporters waved tricolour flags and let off flares before clashing with Morocco fans after their side secured a World Cup final berth

Some 10,000 police were mobilised across France to ensure the match and its aftermath went off peacefully, given the potential of a tension between French supporters and those backing France’s one time North African colony.

Supporters thronged the end of the avenue leading up to the Arc de Triomphe in impassioned but largely good-natured scenes with Moroccan supporters accepting defeat.

Vision from the famous landmark showed fans clashing and setting off flares and throwing fireworks at police.

Football fans, next to the Arc de Triomphe

Officers were forced to flee the line of fire.

French cops said 115 arrests had been made in Paris by the early hours of Thursday morning.

Anti-riot police did move to disperse a group of fans who were setting off fireworks around the Arc de Triomphe.

“We are in the final. We are in the final,” hundreds of French supporters chanted as drivers sounded horns and anti-riot police lurked in vans lining the area.

Flares were set off at the Champs-Elysees

🇫🇷2️⃣⚽️0️⃣🇲🇦 | AHORA - QATAR 2022: Se reportan disturbios en Bruselas, Bélgica, tras la derrota de Marruecos contra Francia en la Copa del Mundo. pic.twitter.com/51iqnOoz5b

— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) December 14, 2022

“What pleasure it will be to play Argentina in the final,” said Sylvain Badin, 24, clutching a French flag. “I came to share a moment of joy,” he added.

Dozens of Moroccan fans had also made themselves heard during the match in the area, swathing themselves in the national flag and following the match on their phones.

“We lost but it’s only football and we made history by making the semi-finals. We are proud of our country and happy for France,” said Kamal Seddiki, a Moroccan student, 22.

There had been 170 arrests nationwide, including 100 in Paris, when both Morocco and France made the semi-finals at the weekend.

🇫🇷2️⃣⚽️0️⃣🇲🇦 | AHORA - QATAR 2022: Centro de París: pic.twitter.com/0lVPmZeMMZ

— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) December 14, 2022

In the southern city of Nice, trash cans were set on fire after the game where thousands had gathered in the centre of the city.

In Lyon, police also used tear gas when supporters began to let off firecrackers in the central Place Bellecour.

In Brussels around 100 Morocco fans clashed with police.

The fans, gathered near Brussels South station, threw fireworks and other objects at lines of police dressed in riot gear and set alight some garbage bags and cardboard boxes. Police responded with water cannon and tear gas.

A football fans holds a smoke flare after France's victory over Morocco

In the French city of Montpellier, shocking footage also showed fans chucking chairs, fireworks and rocks at riot cops - and climbing the landmark fountain.

People could be seen darting for cover as fireworks were flung across a square.

A young boy also tragically died in Montpellier after a car ploughed into him amid the chaos in the city, the local government confirmed.

Horror video footage captured the moment the car smashed into him at speed and drove off.

A spokesman for the Hérault government said: “A young boy was violently hit on Wednesday evening in Montpellier by a car following the semi-final match of the World Cup.“He was transferred to hospital in an absolute emergency. He died shortly after receiving medical care.”

The relationship France has with Morocco is not nearly as traumatic as with neighbouring Algeria, which fought Paris in a bloody seven-year War of Independence that scars both nations to this day.

Tensions boiled over in Paris

But as in any postcolonial relationship, Morocco, which won independence in 1956, has its grievances with France, most notably over the question of visas.

Over a million Moroccans are believed to live in France and security forces had been on alert for any clashes like those in Brussels that marked Morocco’s shock win over Belgium in the group stages.

“We are happy for France,” said Hossam Boutalah, 20, a Moroccan flag on his back in the southwestern city of Bordeaux where the central square was packed for the match.

“We are brothers after all, we are together. It is our second country. Morocco played well and would have deserved to score a goal,” he

Police officers walk past a smoke flare after France's victory over Morocco

44-SECONDS TO CRUSH A DREAM: MESSI V MBAPPE IN FINAL

It was always going to involve Kylian Mbappe wasn’t it?

One of the greatest strikers we have seen in years and now creating one of the best assists of the World Cup to secure France’s spot in the final against Argentina.

Mbappe v Messi it will be on Monday morning (AEDT) as France contests their fourth World Cup final since 1998.

There was heartbreak for Morocco as the final whistle went. Exhausted and injured players collapsing to the ground, tears flowing and inconsolable stars wondering what could have been.

They had been the fairytale story of the tournament in Qatar but were powerless to find a response to the onslaught form France.

Just four minutes into the clash Theo Hernandez slotted the first, and while it looked likely an equaliser was possible, Randal Kolo Muani doubled France’s lead in the 79th minute on the end of Mbappe’s cross.

`The goal made history as the second fastest in World Cup history with Muani having only come on as a substitute 44 seconds earlier.

COACH PRIDE

France coach Didier Deschamps spoke of his “emotion and pride” after Les Bleus reached a second straight World Cup final with a 2-0 defeat of Morocco.

“There is emotion and pride,” the delighted French coach said. “Obviously it was another important step today and now there will be another one.

“We’ve been together for a month. It’s never easy, but here it is -- it’s been a joy so far and my players have been rewarded.”

France are aiming to become the first team in 60 years to win back-to-back World Cup titles after Brazil’s double victories in 1958 and 1962.

FULL-TIME FAIRYTALE IS OVER

Nothing but respect for Morocco particularly the chaos they just caused in the dying minutes. Ball cleared off the line twice to deny them. Fair play they have never once let up. They have put world football on notice this tournament. it hasn’t been fluked, they haven’t been lucky, they have played terrific football, smart football.

The group stages saw them draw with Croatia, while beating Belgium and Canada before they ousted Spain and Portugal.

You don’t do that by luck.

Players have fallen to the ground, tears and exhaustion. Morocco deserves all the plaudits.

76 MINS GOAL!!

France have just about cemented their spot in the final of the World Cup.

Mbappe set it up, sublime movement, untouchable dribbling and the ball slotted perfectly for Muani to score his first goal for France.

Heartbreak for Morocco and for the first time this World Cup their fans have been silenced.

75MINS HOW MANY TOUCHES DO YOU NEED?

Terrific chance goes begging for Morocco way too many touches just couldn’t get the strike off and France did well to pile the pressure and force the ball out of play. Got to jump on the chances much faster than that.

10 minutes to pay so is there an equaliser in this?

5MINS GIROUD OFF

An interesting decision from Deschamps, taking off your most prolific goal scorer but that’s the decision we have.

And immediately we have a break towards the Moroccan end of the field, Loris again called off his line to save the day.

Ever hear the old “it’s very possible you’ve scored too early” line? Yeah France have sat back a little too much since that first goal, Morocco looking the more dangerous side right now. Real ‘England park the bus’ vibes.

Watch me regret typing that in five minutes.

France's midfielder #08 Aurelien Tchouameni and Morocco's defender #18 Jawad El Yamiq

IN THE FACE

Speaking of Mbappe...he raced to the aid of a France fan after accidentally hitting him with a wayward shot before their World Cup semi-final with Morocco.

The Paris Saint-Germain star was testing his shooting boots during the warm-up ahead of the crunch clash at the Al Bayt Stadium.

But one of his attempts to get his range resulted in him booting the ball square in the face of a Les Bleus fan.

The unlucky fan was badly dazed by the powerful strike and grabbed his nose to see if it had been bloodied.

Lucky for him, the shot didn’t draw blood.

But it did prompt mega star Mbappe to come and check on his condition.

Mbappe, 24, consoled the fan by grabbing his arm in an apologetic manner and seemed to profusely offer his apologies.

(FROM THE SUN)

Kylian Mbappe went to apologise to this fan after hitting him with a ball in the warmup 😬 pic.twitter.com/YIZKPwzekp

— GOAL (@goal) December 14, 2022

51MINS MBAPPE DOWN

Seriously, give this man an Oscar and a yellow card because my god he poured some mayo on that tackle from Konate. Fair challenge on the left side of the goal, right on the area but the ref’s not drinking the Kool-Aid. Play on. Right decision.

Nothing annoys me more in football than the play acting - actually that’s not true, stuttered run ups to penalties annoys me more.

44 MINS OFF THE POST!

Glorious opportunity it would have been goal of the tournament!

Overhead bicycle kick from El Yamiq and he’s only denied by the post and a tiny touch from Loris.

Sensational.

Entra esta y se cae el estadio. 😱 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/4Zuvr3xAov

— ESPN Deportes (@ESPNDeportes) December 14, 2022

36 MINS OFF THE LINE!

A terrific break from that man Mbappe, left a few Moroccan players in their wake with that run but just loses his balance at the end and the strike has less behind it that you’d want.

Off the line for Morocco and the rebound strike is up into the nose bleed section of the stadium.

27 MINS MOROCCO STRUGGLE

You’ve got to feel for some of these guys, clearly not fit by any standard but playing their hearts out and their fans making this environment feel like an away game for France.

Morocco just running out of gas on the odd occasion they actually get the ball out of their own half, no power behind their strikes and then the counter attack from France is a punish. Very tired legs and we’re only 29 minutes gone.

17 MINS AM FRANCE WITH A CHANCE

I’m surprised the left post of the Morocco goal hasn’t asked for a medical time out or to be substituted after that insane strike from Giroud, absolutely battered it he did.

Morocco really showing signs they’re not fully fit, struggling to keep up with this relentless attack from France.

4 MINS WE HAVE A GOAL

The Moroccan defence has been breached and what a set up by the defending champions.

It’s an unfortunate deflection of Mbappe’s strike but the finish is wonderful from Theo Hernandez on an awkward angle.

Deschamps is up on his feet, loving it. First blood to France, what response does Morocco have? This is the first time they have been a goal down this tournament - which is a sentence I never thought I would write.

6am WE ARE UNDERWAY

A late drama for Morocco with FIFA releasing update version of starting XI and Aguerd was not listed

Dari starts at the back instead. Saiss and Mazraoui still out there playing hurt it seems.

Illness has swept through the France World Cup camp on the eve of their semi-final.

The reigning champions face Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium on Thursday morning (AEDT).

But their preparations have been hit with a major blow with a bug spreading within the squad.

Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot were both forced to sit out of training on Wednesday, the team’s last session before facing Morocco.

And they are said to be serious doubts for the crunch clash with the Atlas Lions, prompting a last-minute reshuffle.

Upamecano, who also missed training on Monday, has a sore throat while Rabiot is also under the weather.

Adrien Rabiot is in doubt for France’s semi-final. Picture: Getty Images

It means Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate and Youssef Fofana are on standby in case the first-choice duo cannot recover in time.

Konate and Fofana were drafted in against Tunisia while William Saliba, Matteo Guendouzi, Eduardo Camavinga and Jordan Veretout are alternative options for Deschamps.

Rabiot has played in all five matches while Upamecano was rested for the defeat to Tunisia after qualification for the knockout rounds was already secured.

They both played the full 90 minutes of Les Bleus’ 2-1 quarter-final win over England on Saturday and Deschamps wanted to keep an unchanged XI.

Upamecano came under criticism for his poor defending against Harry Kane throughout the match.

Rabiot, meanwhile, caused controversy by claiming Kane’s penalty miss was “justice”.

The Juventus man said: “First of all, I’m not sure that it’s really a foul.

Dayot Upamecano is also in doubt for the semi-final. Picture: Getty Images

“We’ve seen hundreds of actions like that that aren’t given.

“Of course, when he’s missed, we were happy, it was justice because there was no penalty.”

France went into their title defence without N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba or Karim Benzema and lost Lucas Hernandez to an ACL injury in their opener against Australia - although Benzema could technically make a shock return if they reach the final.

They are yet to keep a clean sheet in Qatar - while tomorrow’s opponents Morocco have conceded just once, including a penalty shootout.

That was an own goal against Canada before knocking Spain and Portugal out to become the first African side to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.

Now Walid Regragui is plotting how to stop Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann - but striker Youssef En-Nesyri will be buoyed by the news of disruption to the defence.