By Darlington Onedibe
​A French appeals court confirmed on Friday that Moroccan football star and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender Achraf Hakimi will face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in France, an accusation the player firmly denies.
​The legal proceedings stem from an incident in February 2023, when a then-24-year-old woman reported to police in the Val-de-Marne region, southeast of Paris, that the footballer had raped her at his home.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, the 27-year-old right-back has remained a core player for both Paris Saint-Germain and the Moroccan national team. PSG has previously stated its support for the player, emphasizing the presumption of innocence.
The Versailles court of appeal rejected Hakimi’s final bid to dismiss the charges, reinforcing the investigative judge’s earlier decision to send the case to a criminal court.
Hakimi and his legal team have consistently maintained his innocence, previously labeling the accusations as “false and unsubstantiated” and claiming the player was the victim of an “extortion attempt.”
