French prosecutors have formally asked a judge to send Paris Saint‑Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi to trial over a rape allegation from 2023.
Hakimi, 26, denies the accusation and says he is being targeted for financial gain; he claims the allegation is a blackmail attempt. The prosecutors have presented what they consider enough evidence to bring the case before the Hauts‑de‑Seine criminal court, where a conviction could bring up to 15 years behind bars.
What Happened in 2023
According to reports, the events in question date back to February 25, 2023. A 24‑year‑old woman says she met Hakimi in January via Instagram, and later agreed to visit him at his home in Boulogne‑Billancourt, a suburb of Paris.
She says she took a taxi paid for by Hakimi. There she alleges he kissed her without consent and assaulted her despite her protests. She says she escaped by texting a friend and was collected shortly after.
She went to the police the same day and gave a statement. Although she initially did not file a formal complaint, prosecutors later proceeded with charges. Hakimi was formally charged with rape on March 3, 2023 and placed under judicial supervision. He was not detained but was required to follow certain legal conditions during the investigation.
Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, has called the prosecutor’s move “incomprehensible and senseless” given the evidence in the file. She says they will appeal if a trial is formalized. Hakimi maintains his innocence, insisting the encounter was consensual and that he is being extorted.
The accuser’s lawyer, Rachel‑Flore Pardo, welcomed the prosecution’s request to go to trial. She said her client felt “immense relief” and that women who speak out should not be discredited or portrayed negatively.
It is now up to the investigating magistrate to decide whether to accept the prosecutor’s request and formally send Hakimi to trial. This judge must make a ruling within the framework of the investigative process.
If that judge agrees, Hakimi would face criminal proceedings in a departmental court in Hauts‑de‑Seine, just outside Paris.
Background on Hakimi
Hakimi rose through Real Madrid’s youth academy, joined Borussia Dortmund in 2018, then moved to Inter Milan in 2020 before signing for Paris Saint‑Germain in 2021.
He was a key part of PSG’s first Champions League title win in May 2025 and also helped Morocco reach the semi‑finals of the 2022 World Cup, a first for an African nation. He extended his contract with PSG until 2029, reflecting his importance at the club.
Throughout the investigation, PSG has publicly supported Hakimi, stating it “trusted fully in the judicial process” and citing “personal reasons” for his absence from training periods.
