Achraf Hakimi to Face Trial for Rape After Court Ruling

Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain defender and captain of Morocco’s national team, will face trial for rape after a French court confirmed on Friday that the case will proceed to a criminal court.

The 27-year-old, one of the most high-profile full-backs in world football, has denied the allegations from the outset and reacted to the ruling by saying he was “eagerly awaiting” his day in court. In a post on X, Hakimi insisted the accusations are false and said the trial would finally allow him “to speak”.

The case dates back to February 2023. A woman, then 24, went to police in the Val-de-Marne region, southeast of Paris, and accused Hakimi of raping her. According to a police source at the time, she told investigators that she had met the player on Instagram in January 2023 and later travelled to his home in a taxi ordered by Hakimi.

Once there, she alleged, Hakimi kissed her, touched her without her consent and then raped her. She said she managed to push him away and send a text message to a friend, who came to collect her.

Hakimi has consistently rejected the accusations. His legal team underlined that Friday’s decision does not amount to a finding of guilt. “This confirmation was expected. Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything, he remains steadfast in his defence,” his lawyer, Fanny Colin, said.

For the complainant, the ruling marks a significant step. Her lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, described the court’s decision as a source of “relief and hope” for her client.

The woman, who uses the pseudonym “Jeanne”, spoke publicly for the first time in an article published by Mediapart on Thursday. She said she wanted the trial “to defend myself, to be heard”.

“I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me,” she said.

No date has yet been set for the start of the trial, which will take place at the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department, on the western edge of Paris.

While Hakimi prepares with Morocco for their second World Cup match on Friday against Scotland, the legal battle now looms over one of the most prominent careers in the modern game, with both player and accuser insisting they are ready to finally tell their stories in court.