French football star Achraf Hakimi is set to stand trial after a French appeals court upheld a decision to refer the case involving an alleged rape incident in 2023 to a criminal court.
The ruling, delivered on Friday by the Versailles Court of Appeal, clears the way for proceedings to take place in the Hauts-de-Seine criminal court. However, authorities have yet to announce a date for the trial.
Hakimi, who plays as a defender for Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Moroccan national team, has consistently denied the allegation.
Reacting to the court’s decision, the player said he had been awaiting the opportunity to present his side of the story.
“I have been waiting for this trial since day one. At last, I will be able to speak,” Hakimi wrote on X.
The complainant, who identified herself under the pseudonym “Jeanne” in a recent interview with French investigative outlet Mediapart, said she pursued legal action to ensure her voice was heard and to seek justice.
Her lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, welcomed the court’s confirmation of the trial, describing the decision as a source of “relief and hope” for her client.
Meanwhile, Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, stressed that the court’s ruling should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt. She noted that the referral to trial was anticipated and reiterated the footballer’s intention to contest the allegations throughout the legal process.
The upcoming trial is expected to attract significant international attention given Hakimi’s status as one of Morocco’s most prominent footballers and a key player for French champions Paris Saint-Germain.