French Appeals Court Affirms Morocco, PSG Star Achraf Hakimi Must Stand Trial in Sexual Assault Case

The Court of Appeal of Versailles has officially dismissed an appeal lodged by Paris Saint-Germain and Moroccan international defender Achraf Hakimi, ruling that the prominent football star must face a full criminal trial over allegations of rape dating back to early 2023. The decision upholds a prior investigative judge's order from February, which recommended that the case move forward to the departmental criminal court of Hauts-de-Seine.

The legal ruling arrived on Friday morning, just hours before Hakimi was scheduled to anchor Morocco's backline against Scotland in a crucial World Cup Group C fixture in the United States.

The criminal indictment stems from an incident in February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman alleged that she was subjected to non-consensual sexual acts and raped by the player inside his private residence located in a Paris suburb, after the two initially connected via Instagram. Hakimi has consistently maintained his absolute innocence, claiming the accusations are entirely manufactured.

Following the court's confirmation of the impending trial, the 27-year-old right-back broke his silence on social media platform X, stating that he has been waiting for the opportunity to clear his name since day one. He argued that the persistent legal scrutiny is a byproduct of his celebrity status, claiming he has become an "easy target" and that the case would have been dropped years ago if he were an ordinary citizen.

"Justice looked me in the eye and told me: 'If you were not famous, there would never have been a case,'" Hakimi wrote, expressing relief that he would finally be permitted to present his side of the story publicly.

Conversely, the legal team representing the complainant expressed deep gratification with the appellate outcome. Rachel-Flore Pardo, the plaintiff's attorney, stated that after three years of grueling legal procedures and aggressive public defamation from the defense, the decision brought her client profound relief and validation. Pardo added that she hopes the trial will serve as a progressive milestone in weakening the "fortress of denial and impunity" that historically shields high-profile figures within the multi-billion dollar ecosystem of men's professional football.

Hakimi's primary defense counsel, Fanny Colin, sharply criticized the court's refusal to dismiss the case, reiterating that the prosecution's argument hinges exclusively on the verbal testimony of an individual who systematically obstructed investigations. Colin alleged that the complainant refused multiple forensic DNA tests, declined comprehensive medical examinations, withheld access to her mobile data, and failed to identify key corroborating witnesses, omissions that the defense claims would automatically trigger a dismissal under normal judicial circumstances.

While a definitive calendar date for the judicial proceedings has yet to be finalized by the French authorities, legal experts note that the player could face up to 15 years of imprisonment if convicted. In the interim, Hakimi remains fully cleared to continue his professional athletic duties for both Paris Saint-Germain and the Moroccan national football team.