Morocco defended captain Achraf Hakimi after a French appeals court upheld a decision that he must stand trial in a rape case. The 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defender played in Morocco’s 1-0 World Cup win over Scotland while the legal storm swirled around him, and some Scottish fans at Gillette Stadium near Boston booed him whenever he touched the ball.
Hakimi kept his focus on the match, repeatedly gesturing to energize Morocco supporters, especially during corners. His performance drew praise from the coaching staff, and coach Mohamed Wahbi firmly backed him. "Did you see the match? I assume so," Wahbi said. "Hakimi was outstanding, so we are very calm, and he is very calm. I think he played very well."
Wahbi added that Hakimi woke up, ate with everyone else, stayed concentrated, and wanted to put on a strong display. "That is exactly what he did. We have nothing else to say, we are behind him," he said, adding that Hakimi was calm and that he hoped the defender would prove he is "the best right-back in the world." The coach said the dressing room was not affected by the controversy and that Hakimi was determined and focused.
The case concerns allegations that Hakimi raped a 24-year-old woman at his home outside Paris in 2023. He was first investigated on preliminary suspicion and later appealed the order to stand trial, but the Versailles court rejected that appeal, saying there was enough evidence for the case to go to court. After the ruling, Hakimi posted on social media that "justice looked me in the eyes and told me: 'If you were not famous, there would be no case,'" adding that he had stayed silent for years out of faith in the legal system. Morocco said it intends to keep the issue off the pitch, but the legal saga is expected to follow Hakimi and the team through the tournament.
