Achraf Hakimi to Stand Trial for Rape: French Court Confirms Case

Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain defender and captain of Morocco’s national team, has been ordered to stand trial for rape by a French court, setting the stage for a high-profile criminal case involving one of football’s most recognisable full-backs.

The ruling, delivered on Friday by a court in the Hauts-de-Seine department, confirms that the 27-year-old will face a criminal trial, though no date has yet been set.

Hakimi, who has consistently denied the allegations since they first surfaced, responded publicly on X, saying he was “eagerly awaiting” the trial and that it would finally allow him “to speak”.

Allegations Dating Back to Early 2023

The case stems from a complaint filed in February 2023. A woman, then 24, told police in the Val-de-Marne region, southeast of Paris, that Hakimi raped her after she went to his home.

According to details given at the time by a police source, the woman said she first made contact with Hakimi on Instagram in January 2023. She later went to his residence in a taxi that she said had been ordered by the player.

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

Both Sides Brace for Court

Hakimi’s legal team framed the court’s decision as a procedural step, not a judgment on 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.

On the other side, the woman’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, described the ruling as a significant moment for her client, saying it brought her “relief and hope”.

The complainant, who spoke to the media for the first time this week under the pseudonym “Jeanne” in an article published by Mediapart, made clear why she wants the case heard in open court.

She said she was seeking a trial “to defend myself, to be heard,” adding: “I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me.”

A Star Under the Spotlight

The decision lands as Hakimi remains a central figure for both club and country. The PSG defender is one of Morocco’s leaders, with his national team playing their second World Cup match on Friday against Scotland.

The football continues. The legal battle now runs alongside it, with one of the sport’s elite players waiting for a date that will no longer be set in a stadium, but in a courtroom.