Paris Saint-Germain defender, Achraf Hakimi, is set to stand trial for rape, a French court has confirmed.
In February 2023, a woman who was aged 24 at the time told police in the Val-De-Marne region southeast of Paris that Hakimi had sexually assaulted her at his home.
Hakimi, who is Morocco’s captain and is set to play in their World Cup game against Scotland on Friday, has denied the allegations.
Before playing in PSG’s win over Arsenal in Champions League final and travelling to the United States, Hakimi appeared in person at the Versailles Court of Appeal on May 22 to request that the case be dismissed.
However, the court confirmed on Friday that the trial will go ahead, although a start date has not been announced.
“The investigations carried out during the preliminary inquiry and the judicial investigation led the investigating chamber to conclude that there is sufficient evidence against Mr. Achraf Hakimi Mouh to justify his indictment before the departmental criminal court of Hauts-de-Seine,” the court stated.
In a statement released after the announcement, Hakimi said: “The justice system looked me in the eye and said, ‘If you weren’t famous, there would never have been a case.’ I chose to remain silent for years.
“I believed that maintaining my dignity, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.
“Today, a story that isn’t mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. I sometimes feel like I’ve become an easy target. I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m eagerly awaiting it. Finally, I’ll be able to speak.”
