Achraf Hakimi to Stand Trial After France’s Top Court Rejects Appeal

Achraf Hakimi will stand trial in France after the Court of Cassation rejected the Paris Saint-Germain defender’s appeal over a rape allegation dating back to 2023.

The decision clears the way for Hakimi to face proceedings before the Hauts-de-Seine departmental criminal court, following a lengthy judicial investigation into the allegations.

Hakimi has denied the accusation throughout the case. The Court of Cassation’s decision does not determine whether he is guilty or innocent; that will ultimately be decided during the trial.

The case dates back to February 2023, when a woman made an allegation concerning an incident involving Hakimi at his home in Boulogne-Billancourt. Prosecutors later sought to have the Moroccan international tried, while Hakimi’s lawyers have challenged the decision to send the case to trial.

The prosecution’s case and Hakimi’s defence have presented differing accounts of the events. Hakimi remains presumed innocent unless and until a court establishes otherwise.

Kylian Mbappé could also reportedly be called as a witness. The France captain and Hakimi were teammates at PSG during the period surrounding the investigation, and Mbappé’s name has previously appeared in the judicial proceedings.

The latest ruling means Hakimi’s legal challenge against being sent to trial has now been exhausted, leaving the case to be determined by the criminal court.