PARIS—Achraf Hakimi, the celebrated Paris Saint-Germain defender and pivotal member of Morocco’s historic 2022 World Cup squad, will stand trial following allegations of rape leveled by a young woman. The judicial development was confirmed Tuesday by both the Nanterre prosecutor’s office and Hakimi’s legal representative, Fanny Colin.
The case originated in February 2023 when a then-24-year-old woman filed a criminal complaint with Val-De-Marne police authorities southeast of Paris. She alleged that the international football star had sexually assaulted her during an encounter at his residence. According to initial police reports, the accuser stated she initially connected with Hakimi through Instagram in January 2023 before being transported to his home via a taxi arranged by the player.
Hakimi has maintained his innocence throughout the investigation. The Moroccan international took to social media platform X to declare: ‘Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial, even though I contest it and everything proves that it is false. I await this trial calmly, which will allow the truth to come out publicly.’
The defense strategy has centered on questioning the investigation’s integrity. Attorney Colin emphasized that the prosecution’s case ‘rests solely on the word of a woman who obstructed all investigations, refused all medical examinations and DNA tests, refused to allow her mobile phone to be examined, and refused to give the name of a key witness.’
Conversely, the plaintiff’s legal counsel, Rachel-Flore Pardo, expressed relief at the judicial decision to proceed to trial. Pardo commended the judiciary’s handling of the case while simultaneously criticizing football’s institutional response to such allegations, noting that ‘there are still areas where the #MeToo movement has not yet breached the sound barrier, chiefly in men’s football.’
PSG management has adopted a measured stance regarding the situation. When questioned during Tuesday’s press conference ahead of the Champions League playoff against Monaco, head coach Luis Enrique stated: ‘This matter is in the hands of the authorities.’
The trial proceedings will determine the outcome for the 27-year-old athlete whose career includes notable tenures with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Inter Milan before his high-profile transfer to PSG in 2021. Hakimi achieved global recognition during Morocco’s unprecedented run to the World Cup semi-finals, cementing his status as one of African football’s most prominent figures.