A French appeals court has upheld a decision ordering Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi to stand trial over an alleged rape case dating back to 2023, an accusation the Paris Saint-Germain defender denies.
The ruling was delivered on Friday by the Versailles Court of Appeal, clearing the way for the matter to proceed before a criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
Authorities have yet to announce a date for the commencement of the trial proceedings.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports, the plaintiff’s attorney, Rachel-Flore Pardo, stated that the judicial confirmation brought her client “relief and hope.”
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The plaintiff, who spoke publicly under the pseudonym Jeanne in an interview published Thursday by the French investigative outlet Mediapart, expressed that she pursued the trial to defend herself and be heard.
Conversely, Hakimi’s defense counsel, Fanny Colin, noted that the confirmation was expected, emphasizing that the referral does not equate to a declaration of guilt and that the player remains steadfast in his defense.
Following the ruling, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back and captain of the Moroccan national team took to the social media platform X to address the situation.
Hakimi stated that he had been waiting for this trial since day one and added, “At last, I will be able to speak.”
