PSG Defender Achraf Hakimi Ordered to Stand Trial on Rape Charge

Paris: Achraf Hakimi, defender for Paris Saint‑Germain and the Morocco national team, has been ordered to stand trial on a rape charge, French prosecutors and his legal team confirmed on Tuesday. The decision follows an investigation that began in 2023 after a woman accused the 27-year-old of sexual assault at his residence in a Paris suburb.

The Nanterre public prosecutor’s office formally referred the case to trial after judges found sufficient grounds to proceed, according to court records. Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, said she plans to appeal the decision, stressing that the defense considers the accusation unfounded.

Hakimi took to social media to address the development, asserting that he denies all allegations and looks forward to a fair trial that he believes will prove his innocence. “Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial, even though I contest it and everything proves it is false,” he wrote, adding that he awaits the process “calmly” so the truth can emerge publicly.

The survivor, then aged 24, first came forward in February 2023, claiming she was raped at Hakimi’s home after meeting him through social media. The prosecutor’s office and the plaintiff’s counsel have said the order to send the case to trial aligns with evidence developed during the long inquiry. Her lawyer welcomed the referral to criminal court.

Under French law, a referral to trial follows preliminary charges — an indication that a judge believes there is credible reason to suspect a crime occurred, though it does not represent a conviction. A trial date has not yet been set.

Despite the legal turmoil, Hakimi has continued training with PSG and is preparing for Champions League fixtures this week. PSG head coach Luis Enrique declined to comment in detail on the case at a pre-match press conference, noting that it is “in the hands of the justice system.”

Hakimi rose to prominence with clubs including Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan before joining PSG in 2021, and played a pivotal role in Morocco’s historic run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where the nation reached the semifinals.