Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi is set to face trial in France after prosecutors confirmed that a case involving a rape allegation against the Paris Saint-Germain defender will go to court.
The case began after a 24-year-old woman accused Hakimi of raping her at his home in Paris in 2023.
French authorities started an investigation in March 2023. In February 2026, a judge decided that the case should go to trial.
Reports from France say Hakimi tried to have the case thrown out, but his appeal was rejected, allowing the trial to move forward.
The 27-year-old has strongly denied the allegations and continues to say he is innocent.
In a statement posted on social media, Hakimi said he was frustrated by the situation and explained that he had stayed silent for years because he respected the legal process.
“The justice system looked me in the eye and said, ‘If you weren’t famous, there would never have been a case,’” Hakimi wrote.
“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.
“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.”
The woman’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, welcomed the decision and said her client was relieved that the case would be heard in court.
“After more than three years of legal proceedings, and after my client was, in her view, defamed and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi’s defence, this decision brings her relief and hope,” Pardo stated.
She also said the trial could help challenge what she described as a culture of denial and lack of accountability around sexual violence, including in men’s football.
A trial date has not yet been announced.
Hakimi is currently with Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States and is expected to captain the team in their second Group C match against Scotland.
If Morocco reaches the knockout stage in Canada or Mexico, the ongoing legal case could create travel issues for Hakimi, depending on legal and immigration rules. Continue to More Sports.
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