On 14 May 2023, Aboukhlal refused to represent Toulouse in a Ligue 1 match against Nantes due to the game being a part of a league-wide campaign against
homophobia, meaning all teams' kits for the week featured rainbow-themed decorations.
He was in the same week accused by several news outlets, of having been involved in an alleged
sexist altercation with
Toulouse's female deputy major
Laurence Arribagé, during Toulouse's Coupe de France title festivities at the city hall in April.
Aboukhlal, who was alleged to have told Arribagé that women should behave in a subservient manner to men after Arribagé had asked some of the players to tone down their loud behaviour, was temporarily suspended from all first team activities.