A French appeals court has ruled that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender and Morocco national team captain Achraf Hakimi will stand trial over allegations that he raped a young woman in 2023, despite the footballer’s continued insistence that he is innocent of the accusations.
The decision, delivered on Friday by the Versailles Court of Appeal, confirms that prosecutors have sufficient grounds for the case to proceed to a criminal trial, marking a significant development in one of the most closely watched legal cases involving an international football star.
Hakimi, who is currently representing Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing since the allegations first surfaced more than three years ago. The 27-year-old defender, regarded as one of the world’s finest right-backs, has consistently maintained that the encounter was consensual and has welcomed the opportunity to defend himself before the court.
Shortly after the appellate court delivered its ruling, Hakimi reacted publicly through a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing confidence that the forthcoming trial would allow him to finally present his version of events.
“I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one,” Hakimi wrote.
“At last, I’ll be able to speak.”
Despite the court’s decision, no official date has yet been fixed for the commencement of proceedings before the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department, where the case will eventually be heard.
Hakimi’s legal representative, Fanny Colin, described the ruling as anticipated and emphasized that the court’s decision should not be interpreted as a determination of guilt.
According to her, the appeals court merely upheld the legal process by allowing the allegations to be examined during a full criminal trial.
“This confirmation was expected,” Colin said after the ruling.
“Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything. He remains steadfast in his defence.”
On the other hand, the lawyer representing the complainant, Rachel-Flore Pardo, welcomed the court’s decision, saying it provided reassurance to her client after years of waiting for the judicial process to advance.
According to Pardo, the ruling gives the complainant renewed confidence that her allegations will now receive a full hearing before the court.
She described the decision as bringing her client “relief and hope.”
The allegations against Hakimi date back to February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman reported to police authorities in the Val-de-Marne region, southeast of Paris, that she had been sexually assaulted by the footballer.
According to investigators, the complainant told police that she first became acquainted with Hakimi through Instagram in January 2023.
The woman alleged that after weeks of exchanging messages on the social media platform, Hakimi invited her to his residence in the Paris suburbs.
Investigators said Hakimi allegedly arranged and paid for a taxi to transport the woman to his home.
According to the complainant’s account, the meeting initially appeared cordial before taking an unexpected turn.
She alleged that Hakimi kissed and touched her without her consent before forcing himself on her.
The woman further claimed that despite resisting his advances, the footballer allegedly raped her.
She told investigators that she eventually managed to push Hakimi away before immediately sending a distress message to a friend, who later arrived at the residence and picked her up.
Although she did not initially file a formal criminal complaint immediately after the incident, she later cooperated with investigators, leading prosecutors to open a judicial investigation into the allegations.
Since then, French judicial authorities have conducted an extensive investigation, including interviews with witnesses, forensic assessments and examinations of digital communications.
Hakimi has consistently rejected every allegation made against him.
Throughout the investigation, he has maintained that he is the victim of false accusations motivated by financial interests and has repeatedly expressed confidence that the legal process will ultimately vindicate him.
The case has attracted widespread international attention because of Hakimi’s status as one of football’s biggest stars.
The defender has enjoyed a successful career with several top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
He has also become one of Morocco’s most celebrated footballers, playing a crucial role in the country’s historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Currently leading Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Hakimi’s legal troubles have once again become a major topic of discussion after the appeals court’s latest ruling.
Morocco are scheduled to play Scotland in their second group-stage match on Friday, although the legal proceedings remain entirely separate from his sporting commitments.
In a significant development before Friday’s ruling, the complainant broke her silence publicly for the first time in an interview published on Thursday by investigative media outlet Mediapart.
Using the pseudonym “Jeanne” to protect her identity, the woman explained why she wanted the case to proceed to trial.
According to her, the legal proceedings are about ensuring that her voice is heard and that she has the opportunity to explain what she says happened.
“I want a trial to defend myself, to be heard,” she said.
“I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me.”
The case has continued to generate extensive debate in France and beyond, with supporters of both parties closely following each stage of the judicial process.
Under French law, the decision to send a suspect to trial does not constitute a finding of guilt. Rather, it indicates that investigating magistrates believe there is sufficient evidence for the allegations to be examined in open court, where both the prosecution and defence will have the opportunity to present their cases before judges determine the outcome.
With the appeals process now concluded, attention will shift to the forthcoming criminal trial, where Hakimi will formally answer the allegations against him in court. Until then, the Moroccan international remains presumed innocent under French law while the judicial process continues.
