PSG Star Achraf Hakimi Faces Trial For Alleged Rape

Achraf Hakimi, a defender for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), will face trial over an allegation that he raped a young woman.

According to his lawyer, the case began in February 2023 when a 24-year-old woman reported to police in Val-de-Marne, near Paris, that Hakimi had raped her.

Hakimi, 27, who helped Morocco reach the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, has denied the accusation.

In a post on X, the footballer said the claim was untrue and that he is confident the court process will clear his name.

‘Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial, even though I contest it and everything proves that it is false.

“I await this trial calmly, which will allow the truth to come out publicly,” he wrote on Tuesday.

His lawyer, Fanny Colin, confirmed that a judge has ordered the case to go to trial.

A prosecutor in Nanterre also confirmed the decision.

“A trial has been ordered on the basis of an accusation that rests solely on the word of a woman who obstructed all investigations, refused all medical examinations and DNA tests, refused to allow her mobile phone to be examined, and refused to give the name of a key witness,” Colin said.

According to earlier information from a police source, the woman said she met Hakimi on Instagram in January 2023 and later visited his home in a taxi he arranged.

She alleged that he kissed and touched her without consent before raping her. She said she was able to push him away and message a friend, who later came to pick her up.

PSG coach Luis Enrique declined to comment in detail when asked about the matter at a press conference, saying only that it is now up to the authorities.

The woman’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said her client welcomed the decision to move forward with a trial and praised the way the justice system handled the case.

However, she added that the wider response shows that the #MeToo movement still faces challenges, especially in men’s football.

Achraf Hakimi was born in Spain to Moroccan parents and began his professional career with Real Madrid, making his senior debut in 2017.

He later played for Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan before joining PSG in 2021.

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