Achraf Hakimi vows to clear his name after being ordered to stand trial over alleged rape

• Paris Saint-Germain defender denies allegation dating back to 2023
• Trial ordered by French judicial authorities after lengthy investigation
• Hakimi says he will allow the truth to come out publicly

Paris Saint–Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has said he will calmly await trial after learning that French judicial authorities have ordered legal proceedings to move forward over an allegation of rape dating back to February 2023.

The Morocco international, who has consistently denied the accusation, said he welcomed the opportunity for the case to be examined in full and in public. Writing on social media platform X, Hakimi stated: “Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial. This is as unjust to the innocent as it is to the genuine victims. I calmly await this trial, which will allow the truth to come out publicly.”

The allegation was made by a woman who was 24 at the time and who claimed Hakimi assaulted her at his home in the south east of Paris. The player was placed under preliminary charges in March 2023, a status in the French legal system that indicates investigating judges believe there are serious grounds to suspect a crime, while allowing further inquiries before deciding whether a case should proceed to trial.

Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, confirmed that the court had ordered the matter to go before judges, as did the prosecutor in Nanterre. Colin strongly criticised the decision, arguing that the accusation rests solely on the complainant’s testimony and that she had obstructed the investigation by refusing medical examinations, DNA testing and access to her mobile phone, as well as declining to identify a key witness.

Colin also said that two psychological assessments of the complainant failed to identify any post traumatic symptoms and revealed inconsistencies in her account. “A trial has been ordered based on an accusation that rests solely on the word of a woman who obstructed all investigations,” she said.

The woman’s lawyer, Rachel Flore Pardo, welcomed the decision, telling the Associated Press that her client had received the news with relief and that the order to proceed was fully consistent with the evidence in the case file. Pardo added that the handling of the case highlighted ongoing challenges in football’s response to issues raised by the Me Too movement.

Paris Saint–Germain head coach Luis Enrique declined to comment in detail when asked about the situation in his pre match press conference ahead of the Monaco fixture. “This is in the hands of the justice system,” he said.

Hakimi has remained available for selection throughout the investigation and continues to play a central role for PSG. The timing and structure of the trial process will now determine how the case unfolds, with the player insisting he is ready to face it in order to clear his name.