A French appeals court has definitively rejected Achraf Hakimi’s appeal and ruled that the Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco captain will stand criminal trial on rape charges. The case, which has shaken France and Morocco, stems from allegations made in 2023 by a young woman who said Hakimi met her on social media, invited her to his home, and sexually assaulted and raped her.
According to the report, the trial is expected to open in the coming months at the Hauts-de-Seine criminal court. The appeal ruling came just hours before Morocco’s World Cup match against Scotland, scheduled for Friday night into Saturday at 1:00 a.m. Hakimi posted a sharp response on X at 3:00 a.m. Boston time, saying, “Justice looked me in the eye and said: ‘If you were not famous, this case would never have been opened.’” He added that he had stayed silent for years and had trusted the judicial process.
Hakimi said he had been waiting to testify and that the story was damaging his family, his life, and “above all, the truth.” He wrote, “I have the feeling that I have become an easy target,” and said, “I am waiting for this trial from day one. And now I am looking forward to it. Finally, I will be able to speak.”
Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, criticized the decision, saying the court ignored contradictions in the complainant’s account, alleged lies, her concealment of information from authorities, and psychological evaluations that, she said, showed complete confusion about the events. On the other side, the complainant’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said the ruling brought relief and hope after more than three years of legal battles and will help other women challenge sexual violence and the sense of impunity surrounding it in men’s football.
