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Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi to stand trial for rape

A French appeals court confirmed that Achraf Hakimi, captain of Morocco's national team and Paris Saint-Germain defender, will stand trial for an alleged rape of a woman in 2023. Hakimi denies the accusation and says he has been waiting for his day in court. The ruling comes during Morocco's 2026 World Cup campaign.

By Tertius News AI Desk 6 outlets · 7 articles Version 1 Coverage Jun 19–26, 2026 Published Aug 15

Lead

Achraf Hakimi, the captain of Morocco's national football team and a defender for Paris Saint-Germain, will stand trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, a French appeals court ruled on Friday. The decision rejects Hakimi's appeal of his indictment and sends the case to the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department, though a trial date has not yet been announced.

The ruling came as Hakimi, 27, was preparing to lead Morocco in their second World Cup match against Scotland in the United States. Hakimi, who has repeatedly denied the allegations, welcomed the decision in a social media post on X, saying he had been "waiting for this trial since day one" and that he finally would be able to speak. "At last, I'll be able to speak," he wrote.

Coverage comparison

International reporting on the decision has been broadly consistent, though outlets emphasised different facets. Al Jazeera and the BBC focused on the court's rejection of Hakimi's appeal and the broader judicial process, while Africa News and Dawn stressed Hakimi's ongoing denial and the upcoming trial. France 24 reported that Hakimi had also lodged an appeal with France's Court of Cassation after the Versailles Court of Appeal upheld his indictment, and RFI stated that the court found "sufficient evidence" against him to justify moving forward. The BBC also noted that Hakimi could face visa headaches if Morocco progresses to the knockout stages and fixtures are scheduled outside the United States, where all of Morocco's group games are being held.

The core facts reported by all outlets are identical: the alleged incident took place in 2023, the woman was 24 at the time, and Hakimi denies the accusation. The date of the trial itself has not been set.

Key claims

Achraf Hakimi will stand trial for rape after a French appeals court rejected his appeal, as reported by Africa News, Al Jazeera, BBC, France 24, and RFI.
The alleged rape took place in February 2023, and the woman was 24 years old when she filed a complaint with police in the Val-de-Marne region, according to BBC, France 24, and RFI.
Hakimi has "consistently denied" the allegations, a claim that appears in all presented sources.
The plaintiff told police she met Hakimi on Instagram in January 2023 and went to his home in a taxi arranged by the player, as attributed by Al Jazeera, BBC, France 24, and RFI.
The plaintiff alleges that Hakimi kissed her, touched her without consent, and raped her, a point reported by AI-Median, Dawn, France 24, and RFI.
The court found "sufficient evidence" to justify Hakimi's indictment, according to RFI.
Hakimi's lawyer, Fanny Colin, who said the confirmation held no implication of guilt and that the defence remained intact, as quoted by Al Jazeera, BBC, and France 24.
The plaintiff's lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said the ruling brought "relief and hope" to her client, as quoted by Africa News, Dawn, RFI, and France 24.
Hakimi could face difficulties entering Canada or Mexico if Morocco's matches in the World Cup take place in those countries, a possibility raised by BBC and highlighted as a concern given his trial status.

Perspectives

Hakimi's defence: Hakimi has described himself as an "easy target" and said he wants to be able to explain himself in court. He wrote on X that he has been waiting for the trial "since day one" and that it will allow him to finally speak. His lawyer, Fanny Colin, said the confirmation was expected and that nothing in the court's decision suggests any guilt. Hakimi's remark that "the justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case'" captures his sentiment that fame has made him a target.

The plaintiff's complaint: The plaintiff, speaking through her lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, has described the decision as a "relief" after more than three years of legal battles. Pardo said her client has repeatedly been "slandered and dragged through the mud" by the defence, and that the trial should "weaken the wall of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including in the world of men's football." The plaintiff, who spoke to the press for the first time for a Mediapart article, described her desire to defend herself and to be heard: "I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me." She has alleged that after meeting Hakimi on Instagram, he arranged a taxi for her, and at his home he kissed her, touched her without consent, and raped her. She said she pushed him away and texted a friend who later came to pick her up.