Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain defender, will appear in court on Friday as he seeks to have a rape case against him dismissed before it goes to trial in France.
A hearing at the Versailles appeals court will review whether the 27-year-old Morocco international should stand trial over allegations dating back to February 2023. If his appeal is rejected, the case will proceed to a criminal trial at a later date.
The allegations were first made by a 24-year-old woman who told police she met Hakimi via Instagram and later visited his home in a taxi arranged by the player. She claims he kissed and touched her without consent before raping her, before managing to leave and contact a friend for help.
Hakimi was formally charged and placed under judicial supervision following the complaint, and in February authorities ruled the case should go to trial. He has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
His legal team has argued that the accusations are unsubstantiated and based solely on the complainant’s testimony, claiming she refused to fully cooperate with investigations, including medical and DNA testing. His lawyer, Fanny Colin, has not commented ahead of the hearing.
Hakimi, who joined PSG from Inter Milan in 2021 after earlier spells at Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, remains one of the club’s key players. He is expected to feature in PSG’s upcoming Champions League final against Arsenal on 30 May in Budapest.
He is also set to represent Morocco at the World Cup in June, where his team will face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti in the group stage, despite the ongoing legal proceedings.
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