Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender, will face trial after a judge ruled the case should proceed. The decision followed recommendations from the Nanterre public prosecutor's office, which last August called for the player to stand trial. The player's lawyer, Fanny Colin, said she will appeal.
Hakimi was given preliminary charges of rape in March 2023 after a 24-year-old woman accused him of assault at his home in a Paris suburb. In the French legal system, preliminary charges mean judges see strong reason to suspect a crime but allow time for further investigation before deciding whether to send a case to trial.
The useful detail is not loud, but it changes the shape of the story without needing a speech.
The timing was notable: Hakimi posted his statement on the eve of a crucial Champions League playoff against Monaco.
Lawyer plans appeal
Colin said a date for the trial has not been set. She claimed the accusation "rests solely on the word of a woman who obstructed all investigations, refused all medical examinations and DNA testing, refused access to her mobile phone, and refused to provide the name of a key witness."
Colin also said two psychological assessments of the plaintiff "revealed a lack of clarity regarding the facts she claims to denounce, as well as the absence of any post-traumatic symptoms."
Rachel-Flore Pardo, who represents the plaintiff, told the AP her client welcomed the order "with relief," adding it "is fully consistent with the evidence in the file."
Hakimi denies wrongdoing
Hakimi has denied any wrongdoing. On X, he said he "calmly awaits" a trial that "will allow the truth to emerge publicly."
"Today, an accusation of rape is enough to justify a trial, even though I contest it and everything shows that it is false. This is as unjust for the innocent as it is for genuine victims," he said.
PSG coach Luis Enrique was asked whether Hakimi's case changes anything for the team and whether he remains the vice captain. Luis Enrique said only: "This is in the hands of the justice system."
In her statement, Pardo said if the justice system has been exemplary in this case, "the broader handling of this affair serves as a reminder of one thing: There remain environments where the MeToo movement has yet to break the sound barrier, chief among them the world of men's professional football."
The trial date has not been set, meaning this matter will linger over the club and player for the foreseeable future.
AP Sports Writer Jerome Pugmire in Paris contributed to this report.