Achraf Hakimi to Stand Trial for Rape in France
Achraf Hakimi, captain of Morocco and mainstay of Paris St-Germain, will stand trial for rape in France after prosecutors confirmed an investigating judge has ordered the case to go before a criminal court.
The decision lands just as Hakimi prepares to lead his country into their second World Cup group match against Scotland on Friday (23:00 BST) in the United States, casting a stark shadow over one of the tournament’s most high-profile defenders.
Trial Ordered After 2023 Allegation
The case stems from an allegation made by a 24-year-old woman, who says Hakimi raped her at his home in the Paris region in 2023. The public prosecutor's office in Nanterre, in the western suburbs of the capital, opened a preliminary investigation in March that year.
That investigation has now moved into its most serious phase. In February 2026, an investigating judge ordered Hakimi, 27, to stand trial. French media report that the defender recently failed in an appeal to have the case thrown out.
No trial date has yet been set, but the path is now clear: the case will be heard in court.
Hakimi has consistently denied the accusation.
Hakimi Breaks His Silence
On Friday, the Morocco captain took to social media and, after years of relative public silence on the matter, set out his stance in stark terms.
"The justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case,'" he wrote.
"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."
His words cut through the usual pre-match noise. On the eve of a World Cup fixture, the narrative around Morocco’s talisman is no longer just about tactics or form, but about a looming legal battle in France.
Plaintiff’s Camp Welcomes Decision
From the other side of the case came a very different reaction.
Rachel-Flore Pardo, lawyer for the plaintiff, welcomed the judge’s decision in a written statement, saying it brought her client "relief and hope" after what she described as more than three years of legal struggle.
"Relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have the right to a trial.
"Hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the wall of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including in the world of men's football."
For the complainant, the trial order is a recognition that her allegation will be tested in open court. For Hakimi, it is the stage he says he has wanted from the beginning.
World Cup Complications Beyond the Pitch
While the legal case will play out in France, the football calendar is pulling Hakimi across North America.
Morocco’s entire group stage is being staged in the United States, where the squad is currently based. For now, that shields Hakimi from any immediate travel complications.
The picture could change quickly if Morocco advance.
From the knockout rounds up to the quarter-finals, World Cup matches are spread across the three co-host nations: the US, Canada and Mexico. Should Morocco progress and find themselves drawn to play in Canada or Mexico, Hakimi may face serious hurdles entering those countries.
Canada’s government guidance states it can deny entry to any person who has "committed or been convicted of a crime". While Hakimi has not been convicted of any offence, the presence of serious charges or an ordered trial can trigger scrutiny at the border.
The potential consequences are not theoretical. Last week, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed his country’s opener against Panama after being denied entry to Canada. Partey, 32, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations from four women between 2020 and 2022, and is due to stand trial next year.
For national teams and tournament organisers, these cases are no longer abstract legal footnotes; they are directly shaping who can and cannot walk out onto the pitch.
A Career Under a Harsh Spotlight
On the field, Hakimi’s rise has been relentless.
He made his international debut for Morocco in 2016 at just 17, and has since earned 97 caps. His surging runs from right-back and his capacity to change games in both directions made him central to the Morocco side that stunned the world in 2022, becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.
At club level, he joined Paris St-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021. Since then he has piled up 13 trophies with the French champions, including back-to-back Champions League titles over the past two seasons, cementing his status as one of the most decorated full-backs of his generation.
Now, that glittering career sits alongside a serious criminal case that will follow him into every stadium, every press conference, every border crossing.
In the short term, his focus will be on Scotland and the World Cup. Beyond that, the questions grow sharper. How long can Morocco and PSG build around a player heading for a rape trial in France? And when the court doors finally open, what will be left of one of football’s brightest modern careers?
