Achraf Hakimi, the captain of the Moroccan national football team and Paris Saint-Germain defender, is to stand trial in Paris on charges of aggravated rape. The decision was confirmed by the Nanterre public prosecutor’s office on Thursday, following a preliminary investigation launched in February 2024. The alleged victim, a 24-year-old woman, filed a complaint claiming she was assaulted at Hakimi’s home in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt on the night of February 25.
Hakimi has denied the allegations through his legal team, asserting that the encounter was consensual. His lawyer, Fanny Colin, stated that her client is “serene and confident that the truth will emerge” during the trial. The case has drawn significant attention due to Hakimi’s prominent role in Moroccan football, having led the national team to a historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The trial date has not yet been set, but judicial sources indicate it is likely to occur in early 2025. The Paris prosecutor’s office emphasised that the decision to proceed to trial reflects the seriousness of the evidence gathered, which includes forensic analysis and witness testimony. Hakimi, who is currently under judicial supervision, remains free to travel for professional commitments but must inform authorities of any trips abroad.
The football world has reacted with caution, with PSG and the Moroccan Football Federation declining to comment while the legal process unfolds. This case adds to a series of high-profile sexual assault allegations involving French footballers in recent years, raising questions about the sport’s handling of such matters.
