Achraf Hakimi of PSG Set to Appear in Court on Rape Charges
Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, who was instrumental in their Champions League triumph last year, will face court proceedings accused of sexually assaulting a 24-year-old woman, according to his legal representative and a French judicial official speaking to AFP on Tuesday.
The allegation came to light in February 2023 when the woman reported the incident to authorities in the Val de Marne area, located southeast of Paris.
The 27-year-old player from Morocco, renowned for his contributions to his nations historic run to the World Cup semi finals as the first African and Arab team to achieve that in 2022, firmly rejects the claims against him.
In a post on X on Tuesday, he stated, "At present, a mere rape claim suffices to prompt a trial, despite my denial and the evidence indicating its falsity."
"I approach this hearing with composure, confident it will reveal the facts to everyone."
Hakimis attorney, Fanny Colin, confirmed that the trial has been scheduled, and this was echoed by the prosecutor in the Nanterre district near Paris.
"The proceedings stem from an accusation reliant entirely on the accusers testimony, as she impeded inquiries, declined medical checks and DNA analysis, withheld her phone from examination, and omitted to identify a crucial witness," Colin explained.
According to a police source from the period, the woman connected with Hakimi via Instagram in January 2023 and travelled to his residence in a cab arranged by him.
She alleged that he kissed her, fondled her against her will, and then assaulted her sexually.
She recounted pushing him off and messaging a friend who arrived to collect her.
During a Tuesday press briefing before the Champions League playoff return fixture against Monaco, PSG manager Luis Enrique remarked, "The authorities are dealing with this issue."
Hakimi participated in training sessions, sporting a neck gaiter, and as the preferred right back, he is expected to feature in Wednesdays match.
Breaking the Silence
The accusers counsel, Rachel Flore Pardo, expressed that her client felt eased knowing the matter would proceed to trial.
She praised the judicial systems handling of the case as outstanding.
However, she noted that broader responses reveal, "Certain spheres remain untouched by the #MeToo wave, particularly in professional mens football," she continued.
Born in Spain to Moroccan heritage, with a mother who worked as a cleaner and a father as a market seller, Hakimi progressed through Reals youth setup and debuted for their first team in 2017.
He contributed to their 2017 2018 Champions League success, though he did not play in the final victory over Liverpool.
He shone as a standout for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations, where the hosts advanced to the final but fell in a tumultuous finish to Senegal.
Hakimi moved to PSG in 2021, following periods at Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.