The Moroccan national football team captain, Achraf Hakimi, will face trial in France on charges of rape, a case that has sent shockwaves through the sporting world and cast a shadow over the nation’s World Cup heroics. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Thursday that Hakimi, 24, has been placed under formal investigation following allegations by a 23-year-old woman who claims the attack occurred in his Paris apartment on February 25, 2023. The investigation has been ongoing for months, and the decision to proceed to trial was made after reviewing forensic evidence and witness testimony.
Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, has denied the allegations through his lawyer, stating that the encounter was consensual. The player was briefly detained in March but released pending trial. The case has drawn intense media scrutiny, not only because of Hakimi’s prominence as a key figure in Morocco’s historic run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar last year, but also due to the broader issues of sexual violence and accountability in professional sports.
The trial is expected to take place in 2025, according to judicial sources. The date has not been set pending further investigations. Hakimi faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison if convicted. The alleged victim has been granted protective measures and is receiving psychological support.
The case highlights a troubling pattern of allegations against high-profile athletes, where the power dynamics and public adulation can complicate the pursuit of justice. For Morocco, a nation that celebrated Hakimi as a hero, the trial represents a painful reckoning. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has stated that it will respect the judicial process and that Hakimi’s place in the national team will be reviewed pending the outcome.
Hakimi’s fall from grace is particularly stark given his journey from the Madrid suburbs to global stardom. His performances in Qatar, where he scored a crucial penalty against Spain, elevated him to icon status in the Arab world. Now, that legacy is under threat as he prepares to defend himself in court.
The trial will unfold against a backdrop of increasing awareness of sexual misconduct in sports, with organisations like FIFA and UEFA under pressure to strengthen safeguarding measures. The outcome will be closely watched as a litmus test for how the legal system handles such cases involving celebrities.
For now, Hakimi continues to train with PSG, but the psychological burden of the upcoming trial is undeniable. As the data show, the statistics around rape convictions remain low globally, but high-profile cases can sometimes shift public discourse. Whether this one will lead to meaningful change or merely sensationalism remains to be seen. The science of jurisprudence may offer clarity, but the emotional fallout will linger.
