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

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi

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.