A French appeals court on Friday confirmed that Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi will face trial over an alleged rape case dating back to 2023, allegations the player has consistently denied.
In February 2023, a 24-year-old woman reported to police in the Val-de-Marne region, southeast of Paris, that Hakimi had raped her.
The Paris Saint-Germain right-back and captain of the Moroccan national team, whose side faces Scotland on Friday in its second match of the 2026 World Cup, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Reacting to the ruling by the Versailles Court of Appeal, Hakimi wrote on X that he had been āwaiting for this trial since day one.ā
āAt last, Iāll be able to speak,ā he said.
A date has not yet been fixed for the trial, which will take place before a criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
Hakimiās lawyer, Fanny Colin, said the ruling was not unexpected and did not amount to a finding of guilt.
āThis confirmation was expected. Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything; he remains steadfast in his defence,ā she said.
The plaintiffās lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said the decision brought her client ārelief and hope.ā
According to the complainant, she first met Hakimi on Instagram in January 2023 and later travelled to his home in a taxi allegedly arranged by the footballer.
She alleged that Hakimi kissed and touched her without her consent before raping her.
The woman said she managed to push him away and sent a message to a friend, who later came to pick her up.
Speaking publicly for the first time in an article published on Thursday, the woman, identified only as Jeanne, said she wanted the matter to proceed to trial.
āI want a trial to defend myself, to be heard,ā she said.
āI want to explain myself. I want people to believe me,ā she added.
