Achraf Hakimi to stand trial for rape, French prosecutors confirm
Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain defender and captain of the Morocco national team, will stand trial on rape charges, French prosecutors confirmed this week. The accusations date back to February 2023, when a woman filed a complaint alleging she was sexually assaulted at Hakimi’s home in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt.
What the prosecutors confirmed
French judicial authorities announced that an investigating judge has referred the case to trial after a two-year examination of the evidence. Prosecutors say the alleged incident occurred on the night of February 3, 2023. Hakimi, 26, has consistently denied the allegations. His legal team maintained from the outset that the encounter was consensual, and they’re expected to mount a vigorous defense when proceedings begin.
A spokesperson for the Paris prosecutor’s office said the referral to trial followed a standard investigative process. “The decision to send this case to trial reflects the conclusions of the judicial investigation,” the spokesperson stated, declining to provide further details on the timeline for hearings.
The case so far
The complaint was filed just days after the alleged assault. French investigators opened a formal inquiry shortly afterward, placing Hakimi under formal investigation — a status in the French legal system that indicates authorities believe there is serious reason to suspect someone’s involvement but falls short of a formal charge under common law systems.
That distinction matters. It’s a process that can take years, and it did. The two-year investigation included interviews, forensic analysis, and testimony from multiple individuals. Hakimi was not detained at any point during the investigation and continued playing for PSG and representing Morocco internationally throughout the process.
Impact on his football career
PSG has not commented publicly on the trial announcement. But the club’s silence speaks volumes about the sensitivity of the situation. Hakimi remains one of the most recognizable defenders in world football, earning around €12 million per season and widely considered among the best right-backs on the planet.
Morocco’s football federation also stayed quiet.
Still, the timing couldn’t be more complicated. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is just over a year away. Morocco qualified and will be among the continent’s most watched teams. Whether Hakimi retains the captaincy through a criminal trial — and potentially beyond — is a question that will only grow louder.
What comes next
No trial date has been set publicly. The French court system will schedule hearings in the coming months, though cases of this nature can take considerable time to reach a final verdict. Hakimi’s lawyers are expected to challenge the referral.
So the full picture won’t emerge anytime soon. For now, Hakimi continues training with PSG, his future both on and off the pitch hanging over one of European football’s biggest clubs heading into a critical season.
