Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A French appeals court has confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco national team captain Achraf Hakimi will stand trial over a rape allegation, dismissing the defender's appeal against a February decision by an investigating judge that there was sufficient evidence to proceed. The Versailles Court of Appeal on Friday, June 19, 2026, rejected Hakimi's challenge and ordered that the 27-year-old be formally charged with rape, clearing the way for a criminal trial in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
The case stems from a complaint filed by a then-24-year-old woman who told French police that Hakimi sexually assaulted and raped her at his home in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt in February 2023, after the pair met on Instagram. The Nanterre public prosecutor's office began a preliminary investigation in March 2023, and an investigating judge ordered a trial in February 2026, which prompted Hakimi's legal team to challenge the decision. However, the Versailles Court of Appeal upheld the ruling, concluding that the investigations conducted during the inquiry and the judicial investigation had produced sufficient evidence against the player to stand trial.
The ruling came on the same day Hakimi was due to lead Morocco out for their second Group C match against Scotland at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Boston. He has consistently denied the allegations since they first emerged. In a statement posted on his social media accounts on Friday, he wrote: "The justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case.' I chose to remain silent for years. I believed that maintaining my dignity, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made." He added: "Today, a story that isn't mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. I sometimes feel like I've become an easy target. I've been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I'm eagerly awaiting it. Finally, I'll be able to speak."
Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the plaintiff, welcomed the court's decision, saying her client felt "relief and hope" after more than three years of legal proceedings. "Relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have the right to a trial," Pardo said in a statement. "Hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the wall of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including in the world of men's football."
Hakimi's lawyer, Fanny Colin, however, criticised the decision, insisting that evidence uncovered during the investigation supported the player's innocence. "The multitude of exculpatory elements revealed by the investigation and the judicial inquiry would, in any other case, have led to a dismissal," Colin said.
No date has yet been set for the trial. Hakimi, widely regarded as one of the world's best right-backs, has won back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG and made 97 appearances for Morocco since his international debut in 2016. He was a key figure in the Morocco side that became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022. Should Morocco progress further in the tournament, Hakimi could face potential travel complications entering Canada or Mexico, where some knockout matches are scheduled, as co-host nations have the authority to deny entry to individuals with pending criminal charges.
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