(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
French Court Orders Trial for PSG Player Achraf Hakimi in Rape Case
A French appeals court has confirmed that Moroccan international footballer and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender Achraf Hakimi will stand trial over allegations of rape linked to an incident reported in 2023. The player has strongly denied the allegations.
The case dates back to February 2023, when a woman aged 24 filed a complaint with police in the Val-de-Marne region, southeast of Paris. Following an investigation, the appeals court has now upheld the decision to proceed with a trial.
Hakimi, who also captains the Moroccan national team, has consistently rejected all accusations against him. In a post on social media platform X, he said he had been “waiting for this trial since day one” and welcomed the opportunity to present his side of the case.
His legal representative stated that the ruling does not determine guilt, adding that Hakimi continues to maintain his innocence. The lawyer also said the decision simply confirms that the case will now move forward to court proceedings.
On the other hand, the lawyer representing the complainant described the ruling as a moment of “relief and hope” for her client.
According to statements previously shared with investigators, the woman said she met Hakimi through Instagram in early 2023 and later visited his home in a taxi arranged by him. She alleged that inappropriate contact occurred during the meeting and claimed she managed to leave the residence and seek help from a friend shortly after.
The complainant, speaking publicly for the first time in a media report, said she is seeking a trial so she can present her account and be heard in court.
A date for the trial has not yet been announced by the French judicial authorities.
