chargement...
The Versailles Court of Appeal on Friday upheld the decision to refer Morocco international Achraf Hakimi to the departmental criminal court, where he will stand trial on a rape charge.
The court’s investigating chamber rejected an appeal filed by the Moroccan defender seeking to overturn the referral order and have the case dismissed. In a statement, the court said: «The investigations carried out during the preliminary inquiry and the judicial investigation led the investigating chamber to conclude that there is sufficient evidence against Mr. Achraf Hakimi to justify referring him to the departmental criminal court in Hauts-de-Seine.»
The case stems from rape allegations made by a young woman who met the player through Instagram and visited his home in February 2023. Hakimi, who has been under formal investigation since then, denies all allegations against him. Throughout the proceedings, his defense team challenged the credibility of the accusations, while the complainant’s lawyers argued that the evidence warranted a criminal trial.
«The justice system looked me in the eye and told me: if you were not famous, there would be no case», Hakimi said, reacting to the decision on X. «I chose silence for years. I believed that preserving dignity, being patient and trusting in justice would lead to the right decisions», he added.
«Today, a story that is not mine is being told, at the expense of my family and my life, and above all at the expense of the truth. At times, I feel I have become an easy target», he regretted.
Hakimi said he had been waiting for a trial since the first day and was looking forward to it «eagerly», concluding his message with the words: «Finally, I will be able to speak.»
For her part, the complainant’s lawyer described the ruling as «fully consistent with the elements of the case file and with the positions of the public prosecutor’s office, the investigating judge and the appellate prosecutor’s office», noting that six judges had found sufficient grounds to send the player to trial.
She said the decision paves the way for a criminal trial in the coming months, during which judges will hear the parties and witnesses before delivering a verdict. Hakimi continues to benefit from the presumption of innocence until a final ruling is issued.
By contrast, the player’s lawyers argued that «a large number of exculpatory elements uncovered during the investigation should, in any other case, have led to the file being closed», citing alleged inconsistencies in the complainant’s statements and evidence they say weakens the case.
Hakimi is currently with the Moroccan national team in the United States for the 2026 World Cup. The Atlas Lions opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Brazil and are preparing to face Scotland in their second group-stage match.
