Achraf Hakimi to face trial after final appeal over alleged rape rejected

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi will stand trial over an alleged rape after France’s highest court dismissed his final challenge against the decision to send the case to trial.

The Court of Cassation upheld an earlier ruling that the Morocco international should face a criminal trial over allegations made by a woman in 2023.

Hakimi, 27, has consistently denied the accusation and appealed against the decision to proceed with a trial. His challenge followed a ruling by the Versailles appeals court in June, which confirmed that the case should continue.

However, the Court of Cassation did not assess the substance of the allegations, according to Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin.

“The allegations against Achraf Hakimi, which he has firmly contested from day one, have not been examined by the Court of Cassation,” Colin told AFP.

“They will be during the trial, at which all the evidence in Achraf Hakimi’s defence will be presented publicly.”

Colin said Hakimi had “nothing to hide” and had co-operated fully with police and judicial authorities during the investigation.

The woman, who was 24 at the time, reported Hakimi to police in February 2023.

According to the original account, she had met Hakimi through Instagram before travelling by taxi to his home after he arranged the journey.

She alleged that Hakimi kissed and touched her without her consent before raping her. She said she was able to push him away and then contacted a friend, who came to collect her.

Hakimi was charged with rape several days later.

The woman’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, welcomed the decision by the Court of Cassation and said her client remained committed to pursuing the case.

“After three and a half years of legal battles, after being slandered and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi’s defence, my client is determined to obtain justice; she will fight to the very end,” Pardo said.

Paris Saint-Germain have continued to emphasise Hakimi’s presumption of innocence throughout the legal proceedings.

The French champions said the defender had “always firmly denied the allegations” and that the club remained committed to maintaining a calm and respectful working environment.

PSG also repeated its “constant and unequivocal commitment to combating all forms of violence, particularly sexual violence.”