A French appeals court has cleared the way for Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi to stand trial on a rape charge, rejecting his bid to have the case thrown out just hours before he was due to take the field against Scotland at the 2026 World Cup.
The Versailles appeals court’s ruling upholds an earlier referral to a criminal court and means a trial date will eventually be set in the Hauts-de-Seine department, though no timeline has yet been announced. Hakimi, 27, had challenged that referral, but French media reported the appeal had failed, leaving the case headed for trial.
The defender addressed the decision directly on social media platform X. “Today, a story that isn’t 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 wrote, adding: “I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it. Finally, I’ll be able to speak out.”
The case dates back to February 2023, when a woman then aged 24 reported to police that Hakimi had raped her at his home outside Paris. Nanterre prosecutors opened an investigation shortly afterward, and the player was placed under judicial supervision while the inquiry continued. Hakimi has consistently denied the allegation.
Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the woman, said the appeals court’s decision came after more than three years of legal proceedings and brought her client a measure of relief, telling reporters it meant her client had been heard by the justice system and would finally see the case reach trial. Hakimi’s legal team, for its part, has argued that inconsistencies in the complainant’s account were not adequately weighed by the court.
The ruling landed in the middle of Hakimi’s World Cup campaign. He started for Morocco in their tournament opener, a 1-1 draw with Brazil, and was set to join the squad later Friday ahead of their Group C match against Scotland in Foxborough, Massachusetts, near Boston. It was not immediately clear whether the case would affect his availability for that fixture. PSG, the Moroccan football federation, the Versailles court and Hakimi’s lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Hakimi has been one of the form players of the past year, helping PSG win the Champions League for a second consecutive season, and arrives at this World Cup as one of the most prominent names in Morocco’s squad.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah