Moroccos World Cup Captain Achraf Hakimi to Face Trial Over Rape Allegations

French Appeals Court Confirms Trial for Morocco Captain Hakimi

A French appeals court has confirmed that Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi will face trial on a rape charge. The 24-year-old defender, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, denies the allegations.

Hakimi had appealed his referral to a criminal court, but the Versailles appeals court rejected his appeal. As a result, he will now proceed with the trial in a French criminal court at an unspecified date.

In a social media post, Hakimi expressed his intention to speak out during the trial. “Today, a story that isn’t mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth,” he wrote. “I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it.”

The investigation into Hakimi was launched in 2023 after a woman accused him of rape at his home in a Paris suburb. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office had initially opened charges against him in March 2023.

Hakimi’s lawyer and the Versailles appeals court have not commented on the matter. It is unclear when the trial will begin.

Source: Al Jazeera