French judicial sources have confirmed that Moroccan football star and Paris Saint-Germain player, Achraf Hakimi, will stand trial on charges of raping a young woman in February 2023. This decision comes after months of investigations that began after the woman filed a police report, placing the future of the 27-year-old player at a critical juncture.
General context and developments in the case
The case began in late February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman went to a police station in Val-de-Marne and reported being raped at the player's home in the Boulogne-Billancourt suburb west of Paris. Although she did not initially file a formal complaint, the Nanterre public prosecutor's office decided to open an investigation due to the seriousness of the allegations, a standard procedure in the French legal system. Since then, Hakimi and his legal team have categorically denied the accusations, maintaining that the relationship was consensual.
In his first comment after the referral decision, Hakimi wrote on the “X” platform: “Today, it is enough to be accused of rape to justify referring you to trial, even if you contest it and all the evidence proves it to be false.” He added: “I calmly await this trial, which will allow the truth to be revealed to the public.”.
Divergent legal positions
The player's lawyer, Fanny Collin, maintains that the case lacks physical evidence. She stated that the complainant "refused all medical examinations and DNA testing, and refused to extract data from her mobile phone." She also indicated that psychological evaluations of the plaintiff revealed "a lack of clarity regarding the facts she claims to have reported." In contrast, the young woman's lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, previously asserted that she would not tolerate any smear campaigns or attempts to destabilize her client, expressing her confidence that justice would be served.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
This issue is of paramount importance given Achraf Hakimi's international stature. He is not merely a player for one of Europe's biggest clubs, but a national icon in Morocco and a symbol for ambitious Arab youth. Hakimi was a key player for the Moroccan national team that achieved the historic feat of reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which significantly boosted his popularity.
Domestically in France, this decision casts doubt on the player's future with his club, Paris Saint-Germain, which has not yet issued a statement. Internationally, the trial will be watched by millions of football fans, and its verdict will have a direct impact not only on Hakimi's sporting career but also on his public image and endorsement deals. The case represents a major test for the image of the player who came through Real Madrid's academy and played for major clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan before joining the Parisian giants in 2021.
