Hakimi’s appeal rejected, French court orders rape trial

A French appeals court has definitively rejected Ashraf Hakimi’s challenge and ruled that the Morocco captain must stand trial on rape charges. The case, which has shaken both France and Morocco, is expected to open in the coming months at the Hauts-de-Seine criminal court.

The allegations date back to 2023, when a young woman who met Hakimi on social media and visited his home accused him of sexual assault and rape. In her testimony, she said he acted “like an animal” and showed no tenderness, describing him as desperate to have sex. Hakimi has consistently denied the allegations.

The decision came just hours before Morocco’s World Cup match against Scotland, set for Friday night into Saturday at 1:00 a.m. Hakimi, who is with the national team in Boston, responded on X at 3:00 a.m. local time, writing that “justice looked me in the eye and said: ‘If you weren’t famous, this case would never have been opened.’” He said he had stayed silent for years out of respect and patience, and added that he is waiting to testify and finally speak.

His lawyer, Fanny Collin, criticized the ruling, saying the court ignored contradictions and lies in the complainant’s account, her alleged concealment of information from authorities, and psychological evaluations that, she said, showed “complete confusion” about the events. The complainant’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardos, said the ruling brought relief and hope after more than three years of legal battles, and could help other women challenge sexual violence in men’s football.