Moroccan football star Hakimi will stand trial for rape – French court

Paris Saint-Germain's Moroccan defender #02 Achraf Hakimi warms up ahead of the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 25, 2026. Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP

Kindly share this story:

A French appeals court on Friday confirmed that Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi will face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, which the Paris Saint-Germain defender denies.

In February 2023, a woman then aged 24 told police in the Val-de-Marne region southeast of Paris that Hakimi had raped her.

The PSG right-back and captain of the Moroccan national team, whose second match of the 2026 World Cup kicks off on Friday against Scotland, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Shortly after the Versailles Court of Appeal delivered its ruling, Hakimi wrote on X that he had been “waiting for this trial since day one.”

“At last, I’ll be able to speak,” he said.

A date has not been announced for the start of the trial at the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department.

“This confirmation was expected. Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything; he remains steadfast in his defence,” Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin said.

• 2026 World Cup: USA, Australia eye knockout rounds, Brazil in action
• World Cup: Semenyo says Ghana ready to ‘prove a point’ against England
• Messi’s father recovering, family slams speculation over health condition

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said the decision brought her client “relief and hope”.

The plaintiff said she met Hakimi in January 2023 on Instagram and went to his home in a taxi ordered by the player, a police source said at the time.

She claimed that the player kissed her, touched her without her consent and then raped her.

She said she managed to push him away and text a friend, who came to pick her up.

Speaking to the press for the first time in a Mediapart article published Thursday, the woman, using the pseudonym Jeanne, said she wanted a trial “to defend myself, to be heard”.

“I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me,” she added.

AFP

Kindly share this story:

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]

UPDATE NEWS: As a Nigerian living in Nigeria or diaspora, you can now earn about ₦17- ₦25Million when you acquire premium domains for as low as $2500. You get paid in US Dollars. Ideal for Civil/public servants, Entrepreneurs, Accountants, Doctors, IT Experts and many others. Click here to start.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.

UNILAG confirms water contamination in female hostel

Online threats, insults fuel S'Africa's anti-foreigner hate — Analysts

Army repels ISWAP attack in Borno, launches counter-offensive

Bauchi electoral commission fixes August 17 for LG election

US says goodbye to Air Force One as Trump’s Qatari jet awaits takeoff

FULL FIXTURE: Eyes on August 21 as Premier League releases 2026/27 season schedule

‘Nigerian marketers import Dangote fuel via Lome hub’

Fraudsters rake in N134bn from banks, customers – CBN

Bandits’ attacks: Fed Govt raises N500bn emergency security fund

Insecurity: APC knocks opposition, rejects Tinubu resignation call

Flood crisis: NEC slashes prevention fund by 50%, approves N83bn

EFCC probes ‘prophet’ over alleged N70.39m fraud

Ekiti Decides: Police secure election materials across LGs, INEC ready

Fire guts building on Lagos Island