Achraf Hakimi to stand trial over rape allegation
Morocco captain and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi will stand trial in France over a rape allegation after a French appeals court rejected his bid to have the case dismissed.
The Versailles Court of Appeal upheld an earlier decision by an investigating judge, who in February 2026 ruled that the case should proceed to criminal trial. The court’s decision, confirmed on Friday, means the 27-year-old footballer will now face trial over allegations dating back to February 2023.
The case centres on a complaint filed by a 24-year-old woman, who accused Hakimi of raping her at his home in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburb of Paris. She alleged the pair had first connected on Instagram before meeting in person.
French prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation in March 2023, and Hakimi was subsequently placed under formal investigation.
The Morocco international has consistently denied the allegations and says he is looking forward to presenting his defence in court.
In a statement posted on social media, Hakimi said he had remained silent throughout much of the legal process out of respect for the justice system but insisted he had done nothing wrong.
“I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one,” he wrote. “I believed that maintaining my dignity, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.”
Hakimi also claimed that investigators had suggested the case would not have existed if he were not a public figure.
“The justice system looked me in the eye and said, ‘If you weren’t famous, there would never have been a case,’” he said, adding that he now welcomed the opportunity to tell his side of the story in court.
The complainant’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, welcomed the court’s decision, saying her client felt relieved after more than three years of legal proceedings.
She said the ruling offered her client “relief and hope” and argued that the trial could help challenge what she described as a culture of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including within men’s football.
Hakimi is currently representing Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. He captained the Atlas Lions in their 1-1 draw against Brazil in their opening Group C fixture and is expected to lead the team again in their next match against Scotland.
Should Morocco progress to the knockout stages, which are scheduled to be played in Canada and Mexico, any future legal requirements could potentially affect Hakimi’s travel arrangements, although no restrictions have been announced by French authorities.
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