Prosecutors Call for PSG’s Achraf Hakimi to Face Rape Trial

French prosecutors on Friday have called for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Achraf Hakimi to face trial over allegations of rape relating to an incident in 2023, which the Moroccan international firmly denies.

The Nanterre prosecutor’s office informed AFP that they have requested the investigating judge to refer the rape charge to a criminal court for trial.

“It is now up to the investigating magistrate to make a decision within the framework of his order,” the prosecutor’s office stated to AFP.

Background of the Allegation

Hakimi, aged 26, who played a pivotal role in PSG’s victorious campaign to win their first-ever Champions League title — scoring the opening goal in the 5–0 demolition of Inter Milan in May’s final — has been embroiled in the case since March 2023.

He was charged with raping a 24-year-old woman following an incident on 25 February 2023 at his home in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburb of Paris. At the time, Hakimi’s wife and children were away on holiday.

According to reports, Hakimi allegedly paid for the accuser’s journey to his residence. The woman subsequently attended a police station, alleging rape, and underwent questioning by officers

Details of the Incident

• The accuser met Hakimi in January 2023 via Instagram.
• On the night in question, she travelled by taxi, the fare paid for by Hakimi, to his house.
• She stated to police that Hakimi initiated kissing and made sexual advances which were non-consensual, before proceeding to rape her.
• The woman managed to escape, sending a message to a friend who came to collect her.

A police source told AFP at the time:

“She told police Hakimi had started kissing her and making non-consensual sexual advances, before raping her.”

Legal Proceedings and Statements

Despite the woman’s initial refusal to file a formal accusation, prosecutors decided to press charges against Hakimi.

Following Friday’s announcement, Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, described the prosecution’s call for a trial as “incomprehensible and senseless in light of the case’s elements.”

She added:

“We, along with Achraf Hakimi, remain as calm as we were at the start of the proceedings.
If these requisitions were to be followed, we would obviously pursue all avenues of appeal.”

Colin also claimed her client had been subjected to “an attempted extortion.

Response from the Victim’s Legal Counsel

Conversely, Rachel-Flore Pardo, representing the woman, rejected the extortion claim:

“Nothing in this case suggests an attempted extortion.”

She further commented on the prosecution’s move:

“My client welcomes this news with immense relief.
We will not tolerate any smear or destabilisation campaign, as is unfortunately still too often the case for women who have the courage to report the rape of which they are victims.”

Achraf Hakimi’s Background and Career

Hakimi progressed through the Real Madrid youth academy before moving to Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in 2018, where he made 73 appearances. He transferred to Inter Milan in 2020 and subsequently joined PSG in 2021, where he has become an essential part of the team.

Internationally, Hakimi was instrumental in Morocco’s unprecedented achievement as the first African or Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA World Cup in Qatar, 2022.

This structured overview encapsulates the key details surrounding the legal case against Achraf Hakimi alongside a summary of his football career and personal background.