Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi to stand trial for rape: What’s been said? Does it affect World Cup participation?
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi will stand trial in France accused of rape after losing a bid to have the case thrown out on Friday.
The 27-year-old, who played for Morocco in their victory over Scotland on Friday, had tried to have the rape charge dismissed, but his challenge was rejected by the Court of Appeal of Versailles.
In a statement, shared with The Athletic, the court found on Friday — more than three years after the initial charge — that there is “sufficient evidence” to proceed to a full trial.
Hakimi, who won a second Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain last month, denies any wrongdoing.
No date has yet been given for the trial, which will take place in the criminal court in France’s Hauts-de-Seine department, to the west of Paris.
Morocco’s next game in the World Cup will be against Haiti in Atlanta on Wednesday.
What has been alleged?
The accusation relates to an alleged incident at Hakimi’s home in Boulogne-Billancourt, to the west of Paris, on Saturday February 25, 2023.
The Athletic reported in January, citing multiple reports in the French media, that Hakimi is alleged to have paid for a taxi to collect and drop off at his house a 24-year-old woman, who he had started chatting with on Instagram the previous month.
It is alleged that once the woman arrived at Hakimi’s house, the Morocco defender assaulted her. It is said that the woman, who cannot be named, texted a friend, who came to collect her.
As The Athletic reported in January, the woman went to the police station in Nogent-sur-Marne, to the east of Paris, later on the same day. She claimed she had been raped but did not wish to file a lawsuit.
However, the prosecutor’s office of Nanterre, the prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department, took up the case and Hakimi was charged with rape on March 2, five days after the alleged incident.
In February this year, it was confirmed that Hakimi would stand trial.
What is the process in France for a case to come to trial?
Unlike in England and Wales, where the Crown Prosecution Service decides whether to prosecute, in France there is a judge whose role it is to oversee the investigation that takes place before a criminal trial.
They investigate the case from an impartial standpoint, examining evidence supporting both the allegation and the defence.
As explained by France 24, they decide whether to charge a suspect and whether or not a case will go to trial, or be thrown out.
Their role finishes when the investigation ends. Hakimi’s attempt to have the case thrown out was rejected by the appeals court.
What has Hakimi said?
After losing his appeal to have the charge dismissed, Hakimi, who has always denied any wrongdoing, released a statement on X.
In that statement on Friday, he said: “Finally, I will be able to speak.”
He wrote on X: “Justice looked me in the eyes and said to me: ‘If you weren’t famous, there never would have been a case.’
“I chose to remain silent for years. I thought that staying dignified, being patient, and trusting the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.
“Today, a story that is not mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. Sometimes I feel like I’ve become an easy target.
“I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it. Finally, I will be able to speak.”
Hakimi has played in Morocco’s first two World Cup games (Mauro Pimentel/AFP via Getty Images)
On February 24, when it was first announced he would face trial for rape, Hakimi said he was awaiting the trial.
“Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial, even though I deny it and everything proves it’s false,” he wrote on X at the time. “This is as unjust to the innocent as it is to the genuine victims. I calmly await this trial, which will allow the truth to come out publicly.”
The first time Hakimi discussed the case was in January 2025 on the podcast #ABtalks.
“When you achieve success and things go well, you become an easy target,” he told the podcast. “That taught me that I shouldn’t trust a lot of people around me.”
He also spoke about it with Clique TV in September 2025 during a documentary about his life on Canal+.
“I know that what I was accused of is a lie,” he told the broadcaster. “I know who I am.”
What has Hakimi’s accuser said?
In an interview with French news outlet Mediapart, published last week, the woman said she felt “alone, unsupported and not understood”.
“He’s dragged me through the mud so much,” she told the newspaper. She added how she wanted “a trial to defend myself, to be heard”.
That was the first time she had spoken publicly about the case.
What have the lawyers in the case said?
The accuser is being represented by lawyer Rachel-Flore Pardo.
In a statement, published on X on Friday, Pardo said: “The investigating chamber has ruled that there is sufficient evidence against Achraf Hakimi for committing 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. Six judges therefore determined that the numerous incriminating elements justify indicting Achraf Hakimi before the Departmental Criminal Court for rape.
“After more than three years of legal battles, after being slandered and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi’s defence, this decision brings my client relief and hope.
“Relief at having been heard by the justice system and at having the right to a trial. The hope is that this trial will help other women and further crack the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, even in the world of men’s football.”
In a previous statement, shared with The Athletic in February, Pardo said: “While the justice system has been exemplary in its handling of this case, the broader treatment of the affair serves as a reminder of one thing: there are still environments where the MeToo movement has yet to break through — foremost among them, the world of men’s football.”
Fanny Colin, representing Hakimi, said the case should have been dismissed. “The multitude of exculpatory elements uncovered during the investigation and judicial inquiry would, in any other case, have led to the dismissal of the proceedings,” she told Associated Press.
“Achraf Hakimi’s defence regrets that no consequences were drawn from the contradictions and false statements made by the complainant, her concealment of information from the judicial authorities, her obstruction of the search for the truth, and the psychological assessments noting both her ambivalence and her lack of clarity regarding the events she reported.”
In an earlier statement, from February, shared with The Athletic, Colin said they were “determined and ready to fight as we await this trial so that justice may be served”.
What have Morocco said?
Hakimi, Morocco’s captain, has played in their two World Cup matches to date, a draw with Brazil on Saturday, June 13, and Friday night’s victory over Scotland. They are next in action on Wednesday against Haiti, having already booked their spot in the last 32.
In Friday night’s 1-0 win over Scotland, Hakimi was jeered by the Scotland fans at the Boston Stadium.
Speaking to reporters in the post-match press conference, Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi said: “Did you see the game? I suppose you did. Hakimi was extraordinary. He had a very strong game, so we’re very relaxed, and he’s especially relaxed.
Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi (Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
“He was good. I don’t know why we need to talk about management or other such things. He woke up as normal, had breakfast as normal, motivated everyone, wanted to have a big match. He had a big match; nothing to say. We are behind him, we are calm, he is calm, he’ll have another big match.
“He’s the best right-back in the world. He’s very important for me, for the team, the staff, and for 44 million Moroccans. That’s it.”
What have PSG said?
Paris Saint-Germain, whom Hakimi joined from Inter in 2021, have yet to comment following Friday’s latest news.
The Athletic contacted the Ligue 1 champions but has not yet received a response.
The club released a statement in March 2023 when Hakimi was charged, saying “the club supports the player who has firmly denied the accusations and trusts the justice system. PSG is an institution that promotes respect on and off the pitch”.
When asked about the case at a press conference in February this year, PSG head coach Luis Enrique told reporters it is “in the hands of the justice system”.
The Athletic contacted the Ligue de Football Professionnel for a comment, but has not yet received a response.
Hakimi won the Champions League with PSG last month (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Does this affect Hakimi playing in the World Cup?
Hakimi has been in the U.S. since arriving with Morocco and has already played in the 1-1 draw with Brazil in New Jersey on June 14 and the 1-0 win over Scotland in Boston on June 19. He has also, since Friday, travelled to Atlanta, where they play their third and final group game against Haiti on Wednesday.
When asked if Hakimi losing his appeal against the charge being pursued may affect his visa situation in the U.S., Chloe Dybdahl of Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment, a sports immigration consultancy based in Washington D.C., told The Athletic: “If an individual already has a valid visa or ESTA and is physically present in the United States, the Department of State could revoke the visa or the ESTA authorisation could be cancelled if criminal charges go forward.
“For example, the government could determine that a person should be permitted to travel to the United States for a specific event such as the FIFA World Cup but later conclude that unrestricted future travel is not in the public interest while criminal charges remain unresolved.
“Especially if there is the possibility that the individual could be convicted of a crime that would make them permanently ineligible for a visa. In that circumstance, the government could choose to revoke the visa until the charges were fully resolved.”
If Morocco finish second or third in Group C, they may play their round-of-32 tie in Mexico City or Monterrey. The Athletic has contacted The National Institute of Migration in Mexico for comment about whether, if at all, the confirmation of Hakimi’s trial could affect his ability to travel to Mexico.
The Athletic has also approached FIFA, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the White House, the Moroccan FA and Hakimi’s representatives for comment.
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