Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender Achraf Hakimi is set to stand trial over allegations of rape, according to his lawyer and a French prosecutor. The 27-year-old Moroccan international, who played a key role in Morocco’s historic 2022 World Cup semi-final run, denies any wrongdoing.
The accusation dates back to February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman in Val-de-Marne, southeast of Paris, reported that Hakimi had raped her. Hakimi took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, stating:
“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.”
Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, emphasized that the trial was ordered based solely on the plaintiff’s statement and cited challenges in the investigation, including the plaintiff refusing medical exams, DNA tests, and disclosure of key witnesses.
According to police sources, the plaintiff met Hakimi in January 2023 via Instagram and visited his home. She claimed the player kissed and touched her without consent before allegedly raping her, later reaching out to a friend who picked her up.
PSG coach Luis Enrique, ahead of a Champions League match, commented:
“This matter is in the hands of the authorities.”
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said her client welcomed the decision to proceed to trial but noted that the case highlights areas in men’s football where the #MeToo movement has yet to have significant impact.
Hakimi, born in Spain to a Moroccan mother, previously played for Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Inter Milan before joining PSG in 2021.
