Achraf Hakimi to Stand Trial for Rape Amid World Cup Pressure
The legal battle surrounding Achraf Hakimi has moved into its most serious phase yet, with French authorities ordering the Morocco captain to stand trial for rape following a lengthy judicial investigation.
The case dates back to February 2023, when a young woman reported she had been sexually assaulted at the defender’s home in Boulogne-Billancourt, on the outskirts of Paris. What followed was a three-year judicial inquiry that pulled apart the events of that night and tested the credibility of both sides in minute detail.
After that exhaustive process, prosecutors formally requested a trial. The appeals court has now confirmed the final judicial referral. Legal authorities in Hauts-de-Seine ruled that the investigation produced enough evidence against the 27-year-old to send him directly before a criminal court.
For Hakimi, one of the most recognisable full-backs in world football, the decision cuts through the protective bubble that often surrounds elite players. He responded publicly, breaking a long silence with a pointed statement on social media.
“The court looked me in the eye and said: ‘If you weren’t famous, there would never have been a case,’” he wrote, insisting he had chosen to keep quiet until now. “I chose to remain silent for years. I thought that remaining dignified, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.”
His words underline the deep fracture between the two camps. On the other side of the case, the complainant’s legal team greeted the ruling as a crucial step.
Civil party hails “consistent” step toward justice
For the woman at the centre of the complaint, the appeals court decision lands as a rare moment of validation in a drawn-out process.
Rachel-Flore Pardo, lawyer for the civil party, welcomed the ruling and framed it as part of a broader reckoning inside elite sport.
“The investigating chamber has ruled that there is sufficient evidence against Achraf Hakimi for having committed rape,” she said. “This decision is perfectly consistent with the evidence in the case and in line with the opinions of the public prosecutor, the investigating judge, and the advocate general at the Court of Appeal.
“This decision brings my client relief and hope... The hope that this trial will help other women and further erode the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, even within the world of men's football.”
Her words cut directly into one of the sport’s most sensitive debates: how football handles accusations of sexual violence when the accused is a global star, a national hero, and a commercial asset.
Defence rails against decision
Hakimi’s legal team has taken the opposite stance, attacking the decision to press ahead with a criminal trial and insisting the case should have been thrown out.
His lawyer argued that key elements in the file were ignored, painting a picture of a player dragged into court despite evidence in his favour.
“The multitude of exculpatory elements revealed by the investigation and the judicial inquiry would, in any other case, have led to a dismissal,” the lawyer said. “Mr. Achraf Hakimi is now eagerly awaiting his trial so that he can finally speak publicly about the false accusation against him.”
The clash is now set: one side talking about relief and hope, the other about exculpatory material and a “false accusation”. The courtroom will decide which narrative stands.
World Cup spotlight, courtroom shadow
All of this unfolds at the very moment Hakimi steps onto the biggest stage in the game.
He is currently captaining Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, carrying the expectations of a nation still energised by its historic run at the previous tournament. On Friday evening, he must lead his country into a pivotal second group-stage match against Scotland.
The timing could hardly be more volatile. Every touch, every sprint down the right flank, now comes with the weight of a looming criminal trial. Cameras will follow his movements on the pitch; lawyers will prepare for his appearance in court.
Paris Saint-Germain, his club side, are watching from a distance but with intense interest. Pre-season plans are already under way, yet the shadow of a French criminal trial hangs over their defender’s immediate future. A definitive trial date is expected to be set soon, and that schedule could collide with both club commitments and international duty.
For Hakimi, the next few months will be played out on two unforgiving stages: one lined with fans and floodlights, the other with judges and legal arguments. Only one of them will decide how his story is ultimately written.
