By: Kwame Bediako
French prosecutors on August 1, 2025, formally requested that Moroccan international and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football star Achraf Hakimi face trial for an alleged rape incident that occurred in 2023.
Hakimi, 26, who denied the allegations, was charged in March 2023 with raping a 24-year-old woman. According to reports, Hakimi allegedly paid for the woman to travel to his home in Boulogne-Billancourt, a suburb of Paris, on February 25, 2023, while his wife and children were on holiday.
The case has drawn significant public and media attention given Hakimi’s high profile in international football. On the pitch, Hakimi has been a key player for PSG, notably scoring the opening goal in their dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final in May 2025.
Beyond his club achievements, Hakimi played a historic role for Morocco, helping the nation reach the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a first for an African and Arab country cementing his status as an influential figure in the sport.
The prosecutor’s call for trial reflects serious legal scrutiny and could lead to a criminal court case depending on the investigating judge’s decision.
Hakimi continues to maintain his innocence, and the case highlights the ongoing tensions between the legal process and public perceptions of prominent athletes involved in serious allegations.
This development adds to a broader discourse around the accountability of high-profile sports figures and the legal processes governing such sensitive cases in France.
