Morocco Captain Achraf Hakimi to Face Rape Trial During 2026 World Cup

The Versailles Court of Appeal has confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi will face a criminal trial over rape allegations, dismissing an appeal from the footballer’s legal team. The ruling, delivered on June 19, 2026, paves the way for the 27-year-old right-back to appear before a criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department following a judicial investigation spanning more than three years. The decision comes just hours before Morocco’s second World Cup group match against Scotland, with Hakimi set to captain his side in the United States.

The case originates from a complaint filed in February 2023 by a then-24-year-old woman who told police in the Val-de-Marne region that Hakimi had raped her at his home in Boulogne-Billancourt, a Paris suburb. According to a police source, the woman said she connected with the player on Instagram in January 2023 and was taken to his residence in a taxi arranged by the footballer. She alleged that Hakimi kissed, touched, and raped her without consent, and that she managed to push him away before contacting a friend who came to pick her up. An investigation was opened in March 2023, and Hakimi was placed under judicial supervision. An investigating judge ordered a trial in February 2026 following recommendations from public prosecutors that Hakimi should face charges. The player’s legal team appealed that decision, but the Versailles Court of Appeal rejected the challenge on June 19, ruling that sufficient evidence exists against the player to proceed to a full criminal hearing.

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The footballer, who has consistently denied all allegations since they emerged, responded to the court’s decision with a statement on social media platform X. “Justice looked me in the eye and told me: ‘If you were not famous, there would never have been a case,'” Hakimi wrote. “I chose to remain silent for years. I believed that staying dignified, being patient, and trusting the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.” He added: “I have been waiting for this trial since the first day. And I am now waiting for it impatiently. Finally, I will be able to speak.” Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, criticised the appeal court’s decision, arguing that the investigation had uncovered substantial evidence supporting the player’s innocence. “The multitude of exculpatory elements uncovered during the investigation and judicial inquiry would, in any other case, have led to the dismissal of the proceedings,” Colin told the Associated Press. “Achraf Hakimi’s defense regrets that no consequences were drawn from the contradictions and false statements made by the complainant, her concealment of information from the judicial authorities, her obstruction of the search for the truth, and the psychological assessments noting both her ambivalence and her lack of clarity regarding the events she reported.”

Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the plaintiff, welcomed the court’s decision, stating it brought her client “relief and hope” after more than three years of legal proceedings. “Relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have her case heard at trial,” Pardo said in a statement to the AP. “Hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including within the world of men’s football.” The woman, who recently spoke publicly for the first time under the pseudonym “Jeanne” in an interview with Mediapart, expressed her desire for the trial “to defend myself, to be heard,” adding, “I want people to believe me.”

No date has yet been set for the start of the trial, and the footballer now has ten days to appeal the Versailles court’s decision to the Court of Cassation if he chooses to do so. Despite the legal setback, Hakimi remains available for both Paris Saint-Germain and the Moroccan national team pending the outcome of the trial. He is currently captaining Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with his second group match against Scotland scheduled for Friday. Morocco drew 1-1 with Brazil in their opening Group C fixture. The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of sexual violence within professional football, with the plaintiff’s lawyer noting that “the road is still long” in the fight against sexual violence in the world of men’s football.

Morocco Captain Achraf Hakimi to Face Rape Trial During 2026 World Cup

Ivory Coast Footballer Arrested Over Spot-Fixing Allegations

Less than two weeks before he started for Ivory Coast at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, forward Elye Wahi was reportedly arrested by French police as part of an ongoing investigation into match-fixing allegations. The 23-year-old striker is suspected of deliberately earning a yellow card while playing for Ligue 1 club Nice against Metz on May 17, an incident that has triggered an investigation into organized fraud, sports corruption, and money laundering.

According to a report by The Athletic, suspicious betting patterns were flagged to the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) regarding wagers placed on Wahi receiving a yellow card during the Nice-Metz fixture. The former RC Lens and Montpellier forward was indeed shown a caution in the 35th minute following a late challenge on Metz defender Sadibou Sane. The booking meant Wahi reached the suspension threshold, forcing him to miss the first leg of Nice’s relegation playoff against Saint-Etienne.

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Wahi was arrested by French police on May 29—ironically, immediately after he scored twice in Nice’s 4-1 victory over Saint-Etienne in the second leg, a performance that secured the club’s Ligue 1 status and earned him man of the match honours. A spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirmed that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 footballer had been arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of “organized fraud, organized sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime and money laundering.” The player was subsequently released after being interviewed in police custody and has not been charged with any offence, with the investigation remaining ongoing.

Despite the investigation, Wahi travelled to North America for the World Cup and started in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 Group E victory over Ecuador in Philadelphia, hitting the crossbar in the second half before being substituted. The forward, who represented France at youth level before switching allegiance to Ivory Coast earlier this year, was named in the Ivorian World Cup squad on May 15—just days before the match at the centre of the investigation. It remains unclear whether the ongoing case could affect Wahi’s eligibility to continue playing in the tournament, with Ivory Coast next facing Germany in Toronto on Saturday. FIFA has not commented on whether it was informed of Wahi’s arrest before his appearance against Ecuador.

Ivory Coast Footballer Arrested Over Spot-Fixing Allegations

World Cup 2026: Why Saudi Arabia’s Flag Cannot Touch the Ground

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has not only delivered excitement on the pitch but has also sparked curiosity over a unique tradition involving the Saudi Arabia national flag.

Ahead of Saudi Arabia’s opening Group H match against Uruguay, football fans noticed that while other national flags were laid out on the field during FIFA’s pre-match ceremony, the Saudi flag was handled differently and never allowed to touch the ground.

The reason lies in the flag’s deep religious significance.

Unlike most national flags, the Saudi Arabian flag bears the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith written in Arabic, which translates to: “There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” Because these words are considered sacred in Islam, the flag is treated with exceptional reverence both within Saudi Arabia and internationally.

For this reason, Saudi authorities maintain strict rules regarding the display and handling of the flag. It must not touch the ground, water, or any surface that could be considered disrespectful. The same principle applies to its use on disposable items, promotional materials, or objects that may be stepped on or discarded.

This special status has led international organizations, including FIFA, to adopt specific protocols whenever the Saudi flag is displayed at major sporting events. During the World Cup 2026, organizers ensured that the flag remained elevated rather than being spread across the pitch alongside those of other competing nations.

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The Saudi flag is also unique in another important way. It is the only national flag in the world that is never flown at half-mast, even during periods of national mourning or after the death of a king.

Saudi authorities argue that lowering a flag bearing the Shahada would be inappropriate because the inscription represents eternal religious beliefs rather than a political institution. As a result, the flag remains fully raised at all times.

The design itself also sets the flag apart from others. Since Arabic is read from right to left, the inscription must appear correctly on both sides of the flag. To achieve this, Saudi flags are often manufactured with two identical panels sewn together, ensuring the sacred text remains readable from either direction.

The flag’s origins date back to banners used by forces allied with the House of Saud during the kingdom’s early formation. Following the establishment of modern Saudi Arabia in 1932, the design evolved into its current form, featuring the Shahada above a white sword symbolizing justice, strength, and the unification of the kingdom.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues, the handling of the Saudi flag has drawn global attention and highlighted the intersection of sport, culture, and religion on football’s biggest stage.

The incident serves as a reminder that the Saudi Arabia flag is not merely a national symbol but also a sacred religious emblem, making it unlike any other flag competing in the tournament.

World Cup 2026: Why Saudi Arabia’s Flag Cannot Touch the Ground