Morocco captain Hakimi to stand trial for rape | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

Warning: this article references acts of sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi is set to stand trail for rape, a French court has confirmed.

A woman accused the 27-year-old defender of raping her at his home in Paris in 2023, while she was aged 24, with the Paris Saint-Germain player set for trial two years after prosecutors in Nanterre launched an investigation.

French media have reported that Hakimi – who has consistently denied the allegations – filed an appeal to have the trial dismissed and that it has since failed.

The Moroccan will lead his country out to face Scotland at the Gilette Stadium in New England in their second World Cup group stage match, kicking off at 23:00 (BST), having claimed that “there would never have been a case” had he not have been a prominent footballer.

He wrote in a social media post on Friday: “The justice system looked me in the eye and said, ‘If you weren’t famous, there would never have been a case.’

“I chose to remain silent for years. I believed that maintaining my dignity, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.

“Today, a story that isn’t mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. I sometimes feel like I’ve become an easy target.

“I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m eagerly awaiting it. Finally, I’ll be able to speak.”

Rachel-Flore Pardo, the plaintiff’s lawyer said in a statement: “After more than three years of legal proceedings, and after my client was, in her view, defamed and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi’s defence, this decision brings her relief and hope.

“Relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have the right to a trial.

“Hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the wall of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including in the world of men’s football.”

It comes one week after Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey was denied entry into Canada amid several allegations of rape, for which the 32-year-old former Arsenal and Villareal midfielder is also set to stand trial later this year.

Partey “categorically” denies seven total claims of rape and one of sexual assault allegedly committed between 2020 and 2022.

Hakimi has made 97 caps for Morocco since his debut in 2016 aged 17, and was a key figure in his country becoming the first African nation to make the World Cup semi-finals in 2022.

The defender joined Paris St-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021, and has won 13 pieces of silverware during his time at the club – including back-to-back Champions League titles over the past two seasons.

He also became an African Cup of Nations winner when the trophy was awarded to Morocco on a technicality following Senegal withdrawing its players from the pitch in protest against a penalty decision.

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