Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi has to stand trial in his adopted home of France on charges of rape.
The Versailles Court of Appeal announced this in a statement on Friday. Hakimi, who is under contract with Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, must appear before the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department. There is no exact date yet.
The 27-year-old former Borussia Dortmund professional, currently active at the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, had always denied the allegations. He is the victim of slander. At a hearing in May, he requested that the proceedings be dismissed.
Hakimi denies the allegations
“The justice system looked me in the eyes and said to me: ‘If you weren’t known, there would never have been a case.’ For years I chose to remain silent. I thought that the right thing to do was to remain dignified, be patient and trust the justice system to make the right decisions.”Hakimi wrote at X: “Today a story is being told that is not mine, at the expense of my family, my life and, above all, the truth. Sometimes I feel like I have become an easy target. I have been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I am eagerly awaiting it. Finally I will be able to speak.”
A then 24-year-old told the police in February 2023 that she had been raped by Hakimi. She initially did not file a complaint. Hakimi’s lawyer accuses the woman of obstructing the investigation and refusing medical examinations.