French court rejects Hakimi's appeal

Achraf Hakimi plays for Morocco against Scotland in a Group C match at the 2026 North America World Cup on Friday. [AFP via Yonhap]
Achraf Hakimi plays for Morocco against Scotland in a Group C match at the 2026 North America World Cup on Friday. [AFP via Yonhap]

Achraf Hakimi, the 27-year-old Morocco star who helped his country become the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal at the 2022 Qatar tournament, will stand trial on rape charges.

The Versailles Court of Appeal ordered Hakimi to be formally indicted on rape charges, the court said in a press release cited by the AP on Saturday. The court concluded there was sufficient evidence for a trial to proceed.

Hakimi is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman in March 2023. French prosecutors investigated the case, and a court ruled in February that a formal trial should be held. Hakimi appealed that ruling, but the appeal was rejected, confirming the trial will go forward.

Hakimi maintained his innocence on social media, saying, "If I weren't famous, this would never have happened," and expressing confidence that "the justice system will make the right decision." He added, "I have been waiting for a trial from the outset — I can finally make my voice heard."

The ruling came just hours before Morocco faced Scotland in a Group C match. Morocco had drawn 1-1 with Brazil in their season opener and beat Scotland 1-0.

Hakimi is also a Paris Saint-Germain teammate of South Korea's Lee Kang-in in Ligue 1.


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