The French Supreme Court confirmed on Wednesday the decision to send Paris Saint-Germain defender Ashraf Hakimi to trial on charges of rape. The player, who has denied the allegations since 2023, no longer has the option to appeal the ruling that referred the case to court.
The highest judicial authority in France dismissed the appeal filed by the Moroccan footballer’s lawyers against the Versailles Court of Appeal’s decision dated June 19. Hakimi is now required to face a jury trial.
According to the investigation, Hakimi and the complainant met through social media and exchanged messages for several months. In February 2023, the woman visited the footballer’s home in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburb of Paris.
The complainant alleges that Hakimi engaged in sexual acts against her will. She claims she managed to free herself and then contacted a friend who came to pick her up.
Hakimi has consistently denied the accusations. He acknowledged only consensual hugging and kissing, rejecting any claim of penetration.
One potential witness in the trial could be Kylian Mbappé. At the time of the incident, the French forward was a teammate of Hakimi at PSG. Mbappé spoke with the Moroccan player on the night in question and was interviewed by investigators on April 14, 2023.
The complainant’s lawyer, Rachel-Flor Pardo, stated that her client intends to see the case through after more than three and a half years of legal proceedings.
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