French authorities have requested that Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi stand trial in connection with a rape allegation.

Prosecutors in France Request Criminal Trial for PSG’s Achraf Hakimi in 2023 Rape Case

On Friday, August 1, French prosecutors officially requested that Achraf Hakimi, defender for Paris Saint-Germain, be tried in a criminal court over allegations of rape dating back to 2023 — claims which the Moroccan footballer has denied. The prosecutor’s office in Nanterre informed Agence France-Presse (AFP) that a formal referral to trial had been proposed, with the decision now resting in the hands of the investigative judge.

 

Hakimi, aged 26, was instrumental in PSG’s historic Champions League win, notably scoring the opening goal during their 5–0 victory over Inter Milan in May’s final. In March 2023, he was formally charged with raping a 24-year-old woman. According to reports, Hakimi had arranged and paid for the woman to visit his residence in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburb of Paris, on February 25, 2023 — a time when his wife and children were away.

 

The woman reportedly met Hakimi via Instagram in January 2023. Though she initially chose not to file a formal complaint, authorities pursued legal action based on her statements. She claimed that Hakimi made unwanted advances and sexually assaulted her during the visit. A police source told AFP that she managed to escape and contacted a friend for help.

 

Following the prosecution’s request, Hakimi’s attorney, Fanny Colin, responded by calling the recommendation for trial “incomprehensible” given the facts of the case and stated that any such ruling would be met with legal appeals.

 

In contrast, the alleged victim’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, welcomed the development and expressed her client’s relief at the progress