Achraf Hakimi Ordered to Stand Trial for Rape Charges

Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain full-back and captain of Morocco’s national team, has been ordered to stand trial for rape by a French court, a decision that keeps one of football’s most prominent defenders under intense legal and public scrutiny.

The ruling, confirmed on Friday by the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department, does not set a trial date but clears the way for a full hearing of the case that has hovered over Hakimi since early 2023.

The 27-year-old has repeatedly rejected the accusations. In a post on X, he denied raping the woman and said he was “eagerly awaiting” the trial, arguing it would finally give him the chance “to speak”.

A Case That Won’t Go Away

The complaint dates back to February 2023. A woman, then 24, told police in the Val-de-Marne region, southeast of Paris, that Hakimi had raped her.

According to a police source at the time, the woman said she first came into contact with Hakimi on Instagram in January 2023. She later went to his home in a taxi that she said was ordered by the player.

Once there, she alleged, Hakimi kissed her and touched her without her consent before raping her. She told investigators she managed to push him away and send a text message to a friend, who then came to collect her.

Hakimi has consistently denied these claims.

Lawyers on Opposite Sides of a Divisive Case

The court’s decision to send the case to trial was anticipated by Hakimi’s camp.

“This confirmation was expected. Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything, he remains steadfast in his defence,” his lawyer, Fanny Colin, said after the ruling, underlining that the decision concerns procedure, not a verdict.

On the other side, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, framed the ruling as a crucial step for her client.

She said the decision brought the woman “relief and hope”, a sign that her account will now be tested in open court.

The Plaintiff Speaks Publicly

Until this week, the woman at the centre of the case had stayed out of the spotlight. That changed with an article published by Mediapart on Thursday, where she spoke to the press for the first time under the pseudonym “Jeanne”.

She said she wanted a trial “to defend myself, to be heard”.

“I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me,” she added, setting the tone for what promises to be a closely watched and emotionally charged legal battle.

Football Career Under a Legal Cloud

Hakimi’s status only amplifies the attention. A key figure for PSG and the leader of Morocco’s national side, he remains at the heart of club and country plans on the pitch. Morocco are playing their second World Cup match on Friday against Scotland, a reminder that his sporting life continues while the legal process grinds forward.

For now, there is no date for the start of the trial. The court’s decision ensures only one thing: the allegations will be argued in full, in public, in a criminal courtroom.

What follows will shape not just the future of a high-profile footballer, but the legacy of a case that has already stretched far beyond the touchline.