Achraf Hakimi, a Paris Saint-Germain defender and Morocco captain, will stand trial for rape after a French appeals court rejected his challenge to the referral. The Versailles appeals court confirmed the decision on Friday, paving the way for a criminal trial.
The legal proceedings stem from an investigation opened by the Nanterre prosecutor's office in 2023 following an allegation of rape. The 27-year-old footballer denies the accusations.
In a post on the social media platform X, Hakimi stated that he has been waiting for the trial since day one and is looking forward to the opportunity to speak out and put across his point of view. He claimed that a story that is not his has been told at the expense of the truth, his life, and his family, noting that he sometimes feels like an easy target.
The confirmation comes as Hakimi is due to join the Morocco squad against Scotland. He recently played for Morocco during its World Cup opener against Brazil on Sunday.