By Daily Review Online
Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi will stand trial in France over a rape allegation after a French appeals court upheld an earlier ruling ordering judicial proceedings against him.
The decision, announced on Friday, came just hours before Morocco’s Group C World Cup fixture against Scotland.
Hakimi had appealed a February decision by an investigating judge, which followed recommendations from prosecutors that he should face trial.
The 27-year-old footballer, who recently won a second consecutive UEFA Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain and is representing Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has consistently denied the allegation.
The case stems from a complaint filed in March 2023 by a 24-year-old woman who alleged that she was raped at Hakimi’s residence in a suburb of Paris.
In a statement, the Versailles Court of Appeal said that evidence gathered during the investigation and judicial inquiry was sufficient to warrant a criminal trial.
Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the complainant, said the ruling offered her client “a sense of relief and hope” after years of legal proceedings.
She also alleged that her client had faced public attacks during the process.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Hakimi maintained his innocence in a social media post.
“Justice looked me in the eyes and said to me: ‘If you weren’t famous, there never would have been a case,'” he wrote.
The Morocco captain said he had deliberately remained silent throughout the proceedings, believing that patience and trust in the justice system would allow the facts to emerge.
“Today, a story that is not mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life and, above all, the truth. Sometimes I feel like I’ve become an easy target,” he said.
Hakimi added that he had been awaiting a trial from the outset and was looking forward to presenting his side of the case.
“Finally, I will be able to speak,” he said.
The trial date has not yet been announced.