Paris appeals court has confirmed that Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi will stand trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, a charge the PSG defender strongly denies

A French appeals court confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi will stand trial for the alleged rape of a 24-year-old woman in February 2023, a charge the 27-year-old footballer has consistently denied.

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The Versailles Court of Appeal upheld the decision to send the case to the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department, though a trial date is yet to be announced.

Shortly after the ruling, Hakimi took to X to express his readiness for the proceedings. “At last, I’ll be able to speak,” he wrote, adding that he had been waiting for this trial since day one.

Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, said the confirmation was expected and stressed that her client remains steadfast in his defence. “Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything,” she told reporters.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, described the decision as bringing “relief and hope” to her client. In her first public comments to Mediapart, the woman, using the pseudonym Jeanne, said she wants the trial to be heard and believed.

According to the complaint, the woman met Hakimi on Instagram in January 2023 and went to his home in a taxi arranged by the player.

She alleged that he kissed her, touched her without consent, and raped her. She claimed she managed to push him away and contacted a friend who came to pick her up.

The case comes as Hakimi prepares to play for Morocco in their second 2026 World Cup group match against Scotland on Friday.

Hakimi, who is also captain of the Moroccan national team, continues to enjoy strong support from fans and the club, many of whom maintain his innocence.

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The confirmation of the trial marks a significant development in a case that has drawn international attention due to Hakimi’s high profile in world football.