‘I wish I could take it back’ – QPR star who was sentenced to 12 months in prison breaks silence on attack

ILAIS Chair has spoken about the events that led to his 12-month jail sentence for the first time.

The Moroccan playmaker has done an in-depth interview detailing his turmoil after an incident in 2020 came back to bite him years later.

Chair has taken full accountability for what happened back in 2020Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

was 22 at the time, was on holiday during the off-season with family and friends.

After a kayaking trip in southern Belgium’s Ardennes Forest, an argument ensued with another group over who would get the bus back from the excursion. The man identified in the case as only Niels T was accompanied by his sister and a friend.

The argument got out of control and fast with Chair’s mother being hurt in the melee.

According to Belgium’s public prosecutor, there was “hitting, scratching, and biting” in the altercation.

At the end of it, Niels T lay on the ground with a skull fracture that measured 2cm and Chair had been identified as the man who struck him over the head with a stone.

It wasn’t until January 2024 Chair realised he was the subject of criminal proceedings. A leading Belgian newspaper posted a short news story explaining the incident had developed from a civil case to a criminal one.

He was being accused of failing to appear for a court hearing, but Chair insists he didn’t realise he had to attend. He subsequently discovered he had been found guilty in that hearing in his absence.

He said: “I wrongly, maybe naively, left it for them to manage. That’s on me. I’m a grown man and should have taken control of the situation earlier. It should never have escalated to where it did.”

On February 23, 2024, Chair found new lawyers and attended court with them to request a fresh hearing that allowed him to put his side of the story across. “Although I was aware that at sentencing, my time to speak had passed, I was there to show up with my new legal team for the first time, to show that I have respect for the legal system in Belgium and that I never meant to disrespect it.”

The request was denied and Chair was given a sentence of two years in prison, 12 months of it suspended. He was also to pay the victim €15,000 (£12,800) in compensation. Chair’s cousin, Jaber, was sentenced to six months in prison for his part in the brawl.

Chair has had a rough couple of yearsCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

Chair told The Athletic : “That was probably the darkest day of my life. You automatically go into the worst-case scenario — everything I’ve worked for, everything I’ve done for myself, for my family, could be gone. It still makes me emotional thinking about it now.

“I simply saw my mother on the floor in a vulnerable and scary position and I reacted. It all happened so fast in response to what was happening. Despite this, it never should have happened.

“I wrote a letter to him and his family to say how sorry I am and apologise from the bottom of my heart. I said I wish them nothing but the best in life.”

Despite the shock of the first judgement, Chair left the court with a reduced sentence amounting to 150 hours of community service and a fine of €1,600 (£1,400; $1,900) after his criminal conviction was changed to a misdemeanour.

He explained: “I spoke to the judge and I think the judge appreciated the human side of the whole case. Because at the end of the day, as a young man, being there with your family, seeing your mum on the floor, bruised up… it’s not an excuse to do what I did, but at the same time, it was such a natural and human reaction that I had to that circumstance.

“I said it through the whole process and I said it to the judge that day: I’m really sorry for what happened to that person. I just wish I could take it back. My sincere apologies to that whole family.”

The 12-cap Moroccan scored his first goal of the season last week, but an injury he suffered back in August means he has only played eight times this term.

The midfielder is also determined to repay the faith and loyalty that have shown him during this difficult time.

The club stood by him during the process and he signed a new long-term deal last January that will keep him at the club past a decade of service.