Achraf Hakimi, the Morocco captain and Paris Saint-Germain right-back, will stand trial in France on charges of rape, the Nanterre prosecutor’s office confirmed on Thursday. The decision, which closes a near three-year investigation, places one of the tournament’s most prominent figures in legal jeopardy at the precise moment his country is preparing for a last-16 fixture that could define the African football calendar.
The 27-year-old has denied wrongdoing since the accusation, filed by a 24-year-old woman in February 2023, was first made public. French investigating magistrates have now signed off on the case being referred to the criminal court, the Tribunal Correctionnel, with proceedings expected to begin in early 2027. Hakimi remains under judicial supervision but is free to travel and continue his playing duties. He was named in Morocco’s matchday squad for Friday’s Group H decider against Scotland at Gillette Stadium.
What the prosecution alleges
According to court filings reviewed by Agence France-Presse, the complainant alleges she was assaulted at Hakimi’s home in Boulogne-Billancourt, west of Paris, in the early hours of 25 February 2023. She told investigators she had travelled to the property by taxi, paid for by the defender, after the pair exchanged messages on social media. Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, has consistently described the accusation as “an attempt to harm the reputation of a public figure” and confirmed her client would contest the charge in full.
French law sets the maximum penalty for rape at 15 years’ imprisonment. Prosecutors initially placed Hakimi under formal investigation in March 2023, a procedural step that falls short of charging but signals serious suspicion. The intervening 28 months have been spent gathering forensic evidence, phone records and witness statements. Thursday’s confirmation that the file will proceed to trial is, in French legal terms, the point at which the investigative judge concludes there is sufficient material to put before a court.
PSG declined to comment on the ruling, restating the position they have held since 2023 that the matter is a private legal one. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation issued a short statement noting Hakimi’s continued availability and “the presumption of innocence to which he is entitled under French law.”
A captain, a tournament, a federation under pressure
Hakimi’s status within Moroccan football makes the timing especially fraught. He has been captain since the retirement of Romain Saiss after the 2022 World Cup, where Morocco became the first African nation to reach a semi-final. He has 87 caps, the joint-second highest in the squad, and is the on-field leader of a side managed by Walid Regragui that has been one of the stories of the tournament so far.
The federation now faces a question every host of a captain in legal proceedings eventually confronts: whether to allow on-field continuity to proceed undisturbed, or to acknowledge the off-field reality. There is no FIFA rule that compels removal of a player facing trial; there is, however, an expectation, particularly from sponsors, that federations articulate a position. Morocco’s commercial partners, which include Royal Air Maroc, Maroc Telecom and Inwi, have so far not commented publicly.
- Hakimi has played every minute of Morocco’s three group matches at the 2026 World Cup
- He scored the opening goal in the 2-1 win over Croatia on 11 June
- His commercial portfolio includes a long-term deal with Nike and an ambassadorship with Hublot
- A guilty verdict carries a maximum 15-year sentence under Article 222-23 of the French penal code
What happens next
The trial date has not been set, but French criminal cases of this profile typically reach court 6 to 12 months after referral. Hakimi will remain free to play through that period unless his judicial supervision is altered. Domestically, PSG begin their Ligue 1 title defence in August and will navigate a Champions League campaign in which Hakimi is expected to feature.
For Morocco, the immediate concern is Friday night. A win against Scotland sends them to the last 16; defeat, depending on the parallel result, could end their tournament. Regragui, asked about the case at his pre-match press conference in Foxborough, said only: “Achraf is our captain. He has the support of the staff and his team-mates. Beyond that, it is not for me to comment.” The wider questions, about reputation, about leadership, about what a federation owes the woman at the centre of the case, will not be answered in 90 minutes of football.
Sports journalist and editor at SportsPortal.net. Covers cricket, football, Formula 1, tennis, and basketball with a focus on how global sports connect with Pakistani audiences. Follows the PSL, Pakistan national cricket team, Premier League, and major international tournaments. Has reported on sports for digital audiences since 2021.
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