Morocco star Achraf Hakimi to stand trial over rape allegations

Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco star Achraf Hakimi has been ordered to stand trial on a charge of rape, the Nanterre prosecutor’s office announced Tuesday.

The decision follows a lengthy judicial investigation into allegations stemming from an incident at the defender’s home in February 2023.

The case has been referred to the Hauts-de-Seine criminal court, marking a significant escalation in a legal battle that has shadowed the 27-year-old’s career for nearly three years. If convicted, Hakimi faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison under French law.

The investigation began in early 2023 after a woman, then 24, reported the alleged assault to police. She claimed she was invited to Hakimi’s residence in Boulogne-Billancourt while his wife and children were away on vacation. While the complainant did not initially file a formal lawsuit, the gravity of the allegations prompted the prosecutor’s office to open an inquiry of its own accord.

Hakimi has remained steadfast in his innocence since the investigation was first made public. His legal team has previously characterized the accusations as an attempt at “racketeering” and financial extortion.

Shortly after the trial order was announced, Hakimi took to social media to express his confidence in the legal process. “I calmly await this trial, which will allow the truth to come out publicly,” he wrote, maintaining that the evidence would eventually exonerate him.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Paris Saint-Germain has stood by the right-back, who remains a central figure in their squad. The Moroccan National Team has also continued to call up the defender, who recently played a pivotal role in Morocco’s run to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

PSG has yet to issue a fresh statement regarding the trial referral, though the club previously stated it “supports the player who has firmly denied the allegations.”

The trial is expected to be one of the most high-profile legal proceedings involving a professional athlete in recent French history. While a specific start date has not yet been scheduled, the court is expected to finalize the calendar in the coming months.

For now, Hakimi remains under judicial supervision, though he is permitted to travel internationally for his professional commitments with both his club and the Moroccan national squad.