Achraf Hakimi Faces Rape Trial in France

Achraf Hakimi, captain of Morocco and mainstay of Paris St-Germain, will stand trial for rape in France after prosecutors confirmed an investigating judge has ordered the case to court.

The decision, taken in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris, follows a preliminary investigation that began in March 2023 after a 24-year-old woman accused the defender of raping her at his home in the French capital that year. French media report that Hakimi, now 27, recently failed in an appeal to have the case thrown out.

No trial date has yet been set, but the judge’s ruling in February 2026 means one of the world’s leading full-backs will now move towards a formal hearing in a case that has hovered over his career for more than three years.

Hakimi breaks his silence

Hakimi has consistently denied the allegations. Until now, he has largely let his legal team and the slow grind of the French justice system speak for him. That changed on Friday.

On the eve of Morocco’s second World Cup fixture, against Scotland in the United States (23:00 BST), the defender posted a lengthy message on social media, setting out his frustration and his desire to face his accuser in court.

"The justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case,'" he wrote.

"I chose to remain silent for years. I believed that maintaining my dignity, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.

"Today, a story that isn't mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. I sometimes feel like I've become an easy target.

"I've been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I'm eagerly awaiting it. Finally, I'll be able to speak."

For a player used to deciding games with a burst of acceleration or a perfectly timed run, this is a different kind of confrontation: slow, procedural, unforgiving, and now inevitably public.

Relief and resolve from the complainant

On the other side of the case, the woman who brought the complaint has welcomed the judge’s decision.

Her lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, issued a statement describing the ruling as a moment of “relief and hope” after what she called more than three years of being “defamed and dragged through the mud” by the defence.

"Relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have the right to a trial," Pardo said.

"Hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the wall of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including in the world of men's football."

The language is stark. So is the stage. This is no longer a whispered allegation at the fringes of the sport. It will be tested in open court, with one of football’s most recognisable defenders at the centre.

World Cup complications

All of this unfolds as Hakimi prepares to lead Morocco at a World Cup staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico. For now, his focus remains on the group stage: all three of Morocco’s matches are in the US, where the squad is currently based.

If Morocco progress, the picture could change quickly.

From the knockout rounds up to the quarter-finals, games are spread across the three co-hosts. Any Moroccan tie scheduled in Canada or Mexico would raise immediate questions over Hakimi’s ability to enter those countries while facing a rape trial in France.

The issue is not theoretical. Last week, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed his country’s tournament opener against Panama after being denied entry to Canada, another of the World Cup hosts. Partey, 32, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four women between 2020 and 2022, and is due to stand trial next year.

Canada’s government website states it can deny entry to any person who has “committed or been convicted of a crime”. For players under investigation or awaiting trial, the line between accusation and exclusion can blur quickly in practice.

For Morocco’s coaching staff and federation, the legal backdrop adds a layer of uncertainty to every potential knockout scenario. For Hakimi, it hangs over each performance, each anthem, each tunnel walk.

A star under scrutiny

On the pitch, Hakimi’s rise has been relentless. He made his international debut for Morocco in 2016 at just 17, and has since collected 97 caps, shaping the team’s identity as much as any player of his generation.

He was a driving force in the Morocco side that stunned the world in 2022, becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final. His penalty, calmly chipped down the middle to knock out Spain in the last 16, became an instant symbol of a team playing without fear.

At club level, Hakimi joined Paris St-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021 and has stacked up silverware at a remarkable rate. He has won 13 trophies with PSG, including back-to-back Champions League titles in the past two seasons, cementing his place among the elite in his position.

Now that same player, used to the bright lights of Champions League nights and deep World Cup runs, steps into a different spotlight entirely.

The legal process will grind on in Nanterre. The World Cup will roar on in the United States and beyond. Somewhere between those two worlds, Achraf Hakimi must defend not just his flank, but his name.