Achraf Hakimi Ordered to Stand Trial for Rape Amid World Cup Campaign
The legal battle surrounding Achraf Hakimi moved into its most serious phase this week, as French authorities ordered the Morocco captain to stand trial for rape following a lengthy judicial investigation.
The case relates to an alleged sexual assault at the defender’s home in Boulogne-Billancourt in February 2023, reported by a young woman shortly after the incident. After what has been described as an extensive three-year inquiry, prosecutors pushed for the case to go before a criminal court, a position that has now been upheld by the appeals court in Hauts-de-Seine.
That ruling means judges believe there is sufficient evidence for the 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain full-back to face a full criminal trial in France.
Hakimi breaks his silence
Hakimi, who had largely avoided public comment during the investigation, responded forcefully once the decision became official, posting his reaction on social media.
"The court looked me in the eye and said: 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case,'" he wrote, explaining why he had stayed silent until now. "I chose to remain silent for years. I thought that remaining dignified, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made."
His words underline the bitterness of a player who believes his status has worked against him, not in his favour, and who now wants to fight the accusations in open court.
Civil party hails ‘consistent’ step toward justice
On the other side of the case, the woman’s legal team welcomed the appeals court ruling as a crucial confirmation that the evidence compiled by investigators must be tested at trial.
Rachel-Flore Pardo, lawyer for the civil party, said: "The investigating chamber has ruled that there is sufficient evidence against Achraf Hakimi for having committed rape. This decision is perfectly consistent with the evidence in the case and in line with the opinions of the public prosecutor, the investigating judge, and the advocate general at the Court of Appeal.
"This decision brings my client relief and hope... The hope that this trial will help other women and further erode the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, even within the world of men's football."
Her comments strike directly at the culture around elite sport, framing the case not just as an individual complaint but as part of a broader reckoning with sexual violence and power in the men’s game.
Defence insists on ‘exculpatory’ evidence
Hakimi’s legal team has taken a starkly different line, attacking the decision to send the case to trial and insisting that investigators failed to give due weight to evidence they say favours the player.
"The multitude of exculpatory elements revealed by the investigation and the judicial inquiry would, in any other case, have led to a dismissal," his lawyer argued, maintaining that the file does not justify a prosecution.
"Mr. Achraf Hakimi is now eagerly awaiting his trial so that he can finally speak publicly about the false accusation against him."
The message is clear: Hakimi’s camp wants the courtroom stage, believing it offers the best chance to dismantle the allegations in full view of the public.
World Cup spotlight, courtroom shadow
All of this unfolds at the very moment Hakimi stands at the centre of Morocco’s 2026 World Cup campaign. He is not just another squad member; he is wearing the armband, fronting a team that has carried the hopes of a nation since its historic run at the last tournament.
On Friday evening, he is due to lead Morocco into a pivotal second group-stage clash against Scotland. The stakes are already high on the pitch. Off it, the pressure is suffocating.
Every step he takes in the tunnel, every touch of the ball, arrives with the knowledge that a criminal trial looms in France. For Morocco’s staff and players, the challenge is to keep the focus on tactics, shape, and result while their captain’s name dominates headlines for reasons far removed from football.
PSG watching, France waiting
Back in Paris, his club will be watching closely. Paris Saint-Germain, never far from the glare of global scrutiny, now have to manage the sporting and reputational implications of one of their key players preparing for a criminal trial.
Pre-season is approaching, and with it decisions about squad planning, media exposure, and how to navigate a case that will be argued in a French courtroom under intense public gaze. A definitive trial date is expected to be set soon, adding fresh urgency to the club’s calculations.
For Hakimi, the path is brutally narrow: carry a nation at a World Cup while preparing to defend his name in a rape trial that could define how his career, and perhaps his legacy, are remembered.
