Achraf Hakimi to Stand Trial for Rape Amid World Cup Campaign

The legal battle surrounding Achraf Hakimi has moved into its most serious phase yet, with French authorities ordering the Morocco captain to stand trial for rape following a lengthy judicial investigation.

The case relates to an alleged sexual assault in February 2023 at the defender’s home in Boulogne-Billancourt, on the outskirts of Paris. A young woman reported the incident at the time, triggering what became an extensive, years-long inquiry by the French justice system.

After a three-year judicial process, prosecutors formally requested that the case be sent to trial. That request has now been backed at the appellate level, with legal authorities in Hauts-de-Seine ruling that investigators gathered enough evidence against the 27-year-old to move directly to a full criminal trial.

It is a pivotal decision. No more preliminary back-and-forth, no more speculation over whether the file will be dismissed. The case will now be argued in open court.

Hakimi breaks his silence

Hakimi, who had largely avoided public comment during the investigation, responded forcefully once the ruling became public. Posting on social media, he claimed the case should never have existed in the first place.

"The court looked me in the eye and said: 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case,'" he wrote, insisting he had chosen silence out of respect for the process. "I chose to remain silent for years. I thought that remaining dignified, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made."

His words marked a sharp change of tone from the PSG defender, who until now had left almost all public positioning to his legal team.

Civil party hails a “consistent” ruling

On the other side, the woman who brought the complaint and her representatives greeted the appeals court’s decision as a crucial step.

The civil party’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, described the ruling as both legally coherent and symbolically powerful in the context of elite men’s sport.

"The investigating chamber has ruled that there is sufficient evidence against Achraf Hakimi for having committed rape," she said. "This decision is perfectly consistent with the evidence in the case and in line with the opinions of the public prosecutor, the investigating judge, and the advocate general at the Court of Appeal."

For her client, Pardo said, the decision offers something more personal: "This decision brings my client relief and hope... The hope that this trial will help other women and further erode the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, even within the world of men's football."

A legal fight with two opposing narratives

If the civil party sees confirmation and validation, Hakimi’s camp sees a grave judicial mistake.

His lawyers have denounced the move to trial, insisting that the investigation uncovered what they describe as a “multitude” of elements in his favour that, in their view, should have led to the case being thrown out.

"The multitude of exculpatory elements revealed by the investigation and the judicial inquiry would, in any other case, have led to a dismissal," his lawyer argued, maintaining that the accusations are false and that the process has failed to properly weigh those elements.

Far from fearing the next step, Hakimi’s defence insists he is ready for it.

"Mr. Achraf Hakimi is now eagerly awaiting his trial so that he can finally speak publicly about the false accusation against him," his lawyer added.

A World Cup captain under intense scrutiny

All of this breaks at a moment of maximum visibility for Hakimi. He is not tucked away in an off-season lull or quietly rehabbing an injury. He is front and centre at the 2026 World Cup, wearing the captain’s armband for Morocco.

On Friday evening, he is expected to lead his country into a crucial second group-stage match against Scotland. Every touch, every sprint, every interaction with the referee will unfold under the weight of an impending criminal trial.

For Morocco, the focus is supposed to be on navigating a tricky group and building on the momentum of a generation that has already reshaped African football’s ambitions on the global stage. Instead, their most high-profile player stands at the intersection of sport and a serious criminal accusation.

The noise around him will not fade anytime soon.

PSG watching, France waiting

Back in Paris, his club, Paris Saint-Germain, are tracking developments closely. Pre-season is looming, and the club must plan with the knowledge that their right-back faces a full criminal trial in France.

A definitive trial date has yet to be announced but is expected to be scheduled soon. When it comes, it will drag one of world football’s most recognisable defenders into a courtroom battle that will run parallel to the prime years of his career.

For Hakimi, for his accuser, and for a sport still wrestling with how it handles allegations of sexual violence, the next act will not be played out on a pitch.