French court sends Achraf Hakimi to trial for rape; Moroccan captain says he 'eagerly awaits' chance to speak
The Versailles Court of Appeal confirmed on Friday that PSG and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi will face a criminal trial over a 2023 rape allegation. The 27-year-old footballer, currently at the World Cup, said on social media he has "waited for this trial since the first day" and will now be able to defend himself.
The court ruling
The Cour d’appel de Versailles announced on Friday morning that Achraf Hakimi’s appeal against a rape referral had failed and he will be tried by the Cour criminelle des Hauts-de-Seine. The decision ends a process that began in late February when an investigating judge ordered the case to go to trial and Hakimi exercised his right of appeal.
During a hearing before the chambre de l’instruction in May, Hakimi’s legal team argued for the case to be dropped. On 13 June, the player appeared in person at the Versailles court to request a dismissal before travelling to the World Cup. The court was not convinced.
- A 24-year-old woman tells police in Nogent-sur-Marne that Achraf Hakimi raped her the night before.
- Hakimi appears before the Versailles Court of Appeal to argue for the case to be dismissed.
- The court confirms the referral to trial; Hakimi says he awaits the proceedings with impatience.
The January 2023 allegation
The accusation dates to 25 February 2023, when a then 24-year-old woman went to the police station in Nogent-sur-Marne, Val-de-Marne, and said Hakimi had raped her the previous night. The woman did not file a formal complaint, but the Nanterre public prosecutor opened an investigation.
Investigators determined that the two had met on social networks. Hakimi repeatedly tried to arrange a meeting in public, and the woman eventually agreed to go to his home. According to the complainant’s account, after about an hour he pulled her onto a sofa, kissed her and groped her breasts and buttocks. When she refused further advances, he pinned her down and penetrated her.
He behaved like an animal, as if he was desperate for sex.
Hakimi’s response
Hakimi, the captain of Morocco and a PSG right‑back, has always denied the accusation, describing it as a “false” allegation. Minutes after the appeals court disclosed its decision, he posted a statement on X.
The justice system looked me in the eyes and told me: ‘If you weren’t famous, this case would never have existed.’ I chose to keep silent for years. I thought that staying dignified, being patient and trusting the justice system would lead to the right decisions. Today, a story that is not mine is being told to the detriment of my family, my life and above all the truth. Sometimes I feel I have become an easy target. I have waited for this trial since the first day. And now I await it with impatience. At last, I will be able to speak.
World Cup backdrop
Hakimi is currently at the 2026 World Cup in the United States with Morocco. His team will play their second group‑stage match against Scotland later on Friday evening. The criminal court has not yet set a date for the trial, but the case will proceed in the coming months.
