A French appeals court has ruled that Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi will stand trial over allegations that he raped a woman in 2023, despite the player’s continued insistence that he is innocent.
The decision, delivered on Friday by the Versailles Court of Appeal, clears the way for criminal proceedings against the Paris Saint-Germain defender and captain of Morocco’s national team.
Hakimi, 27, has consistently denied the allegations since they first emerged in February 2023.
The case stems from a complaint filed by a 24-year-old woman who told police in the Val-de-Marne region, southeast of Paris, that she was sexually assaulted by the footballer at his home.
According to investigators, the woman alleged that she met Hakimi through Instagram in January 2023 before visiting his residence in a taxi reportedly arranged by the player.
She claimed that Hakimi kissed and touched her without her consent before raping her. The woman said she was able to push him away and later contacted a friend, who came to pick her up.
No formal trial date has yet been announced by authorities in the Hauts-de-Seine department, where the case is expected to be heard.
Reacting to Friday’s ruling, Hakimi said he welcomed the opportunity to present his version of events before a court.
“I have been waiting for this trial since day one. At last, I will be able to speak,” the footballer wrote on social media platform X.
His lawyer, Fanny Colin, said the court’s decision was anticipated and stressed that the ruling does not imply guilt.
“Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything. He remains steadfast in his defence,” she said.
The complainant’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a source of “relief and hope” for her client.
In comments published by French investigative outlet Mediapart, the woman, who used the pseudonym “Jeanne”, said she wanted the case to proceed to trial so her account could be heard publicly.
“I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me,” she said.
Hakimi remains one of Morocco’s most prominent footballers and is currently representing his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His legal team maintains that he has committed no offence and intends to contest the allegations in court.
Under French law, the decision to proceed to trial does not constitute a finding of guilt. A criminal court will ultimately determine the outcome of the case after hearing evidence from both sides.
