PSG Fans and Ex-Wife Show Support for Achraf Hakimi Ahead of Rape Trial

The Paris Saint-Germain fan section known as Auteuil sparked widespread social discussion by displaying a large banner with the inscription 'Achraf total soutien' on February 25, 2026, during the league match against AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium. The gesture was an expression of support for Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi, whose rape accusation case has just been referred to criminal court. The decision to transfer the case to this instance means that investigators considered the gathered evidence serious enough to warrant consideration before a criminal court, rather than a lower-ranking one. Public demonstrations of support for athletes accused of sexual offenses are not a new phenomenon in French and European football. In the past, clubs and fan communities have grappled with the dilemma of loyalty to a player while respecting principles of justice and sensitivity towards victims. The presumption of innocence, a fundamental legal principle, is often confronted in such cases with societal expectations regarding responses to serious allegations. The reaction of the Paris Saint-Germain club to its fans' actions differed from its past stance. Unlike the situation involving former player Benjamin Mendy, also accused of sexual offenses, when the club publicly admonished the fans, this time the PSG authorities did not issue any official statement condemning or distancing themselves from the banner. The lack of this reaction was noted by the media and interpreted by some observers as silent consent or a conscious decision not to engage in a case pending before the judiciary. The day after the event, on February 26, Achraf Hakimi responded to his supporters' gesture by publishing brief thanks on social media directed to 'all those who support me'. The fans' initiative met with sharp criticism outside the sports community. Some media and commentators, including the French daily '20minutes', pointed out that unconditional support for a person accused of such a serious crime could be perceived as a lack of sensitivity towards victims of sexual violence and a stigmatizing action. According to critics, public demonstrations of this type can undermine the credibility of victims and discourage them from reporting crimes. „Pourquoi Auteuil aurait dû s'abstenir de déployer une banderole pro-Hakimi” (Why Auteuil should have refrained from deploying a pro-Hakimi banner) — – the article's headline asked rhetorically, suggesting that the fans should have refrained from this gesture. This debate touches on the broader problem of the relationship between fan loyalty and social responsibility in the face of serious criminal charges. Another twist in this personal story occurred on February 27, when media attention was drawn to a private message from Hakimi's ex-wife, Hiba Abouk. The well-known actress and model published kind and supportive words online directed at the footballer. Abouk wished him strength ahead of the upcoming court trial. Her gesture, though personal, was perceived as significant in the context of the public narrative surrounding the case, adding a human and family dimension to it, often overlooked in the media noise. Support from an ex-partner, especially after a divorce, rarely appears in similar cases, making this gesture exceptional.