Hull City: Jakirović comments on the Belloumi incident and Roy Keane's reaction.

Oct 17, 2026

The decision to leave Mohamed Bachir Belloumi on the bench against Everton sparked strong reactions in England. A few days after the incident that drew a response from Roy Keane on the Sky Sports set, Hull City coach Sergej Jakirović reassessed his choices and the physical condition of the Algerian international.

After starting on the bench in Hull City's last match against Everton, the Algerian winger found himself at the center of a "controversy," especially following the mockery from former Irish international Roy Keane regarding his coach's justifications.

Sergej Jakirović explained this decision by the fatigue experienced by his player after returning from national duty. This explanation prompted laughter from the former Manchester United midfielder on the Sky Sports set.

During a press conference ahead of Hull City's match against Fulham, the coach addressed the incident while maintaining his stance. “If a player comes to you and says: ‘Coach, I don’t feel well, I’m a bit tired,’ that’s normal, because we have other options,” he stated.

The Tigers' coach also highlighted the quality of the alternatives he has in attack. “We have Joe Gelhardt, who scored, which is ideal when you have many quality players in that position. Mo came on and also scored, which is excellent for the team,” he added.

The facts indeed provided him with an additional argument: coming on against Everton, Belloumi scored the equalizer in the 74th minute, allowing Hull City to level the score at 2-2.

This situation did not prevent Belloumi from proving his importance in Hull City's squad. With three goals and two assists in the first six matches, the Algerian international has stood out for his offensive efficiency since the start of the season. This fuels the debate around his status, as his performances continue to work in his favor.

DZfoot