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A French appeals court on Friday confirmed that Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi will face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, which the Paris Saint-Germain defender denies.
The decision was delivered by the Versailles Court of Appeal in the afternoon, paving the way for the trial to take place before the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
A specific date for the beginning of the proceedings has not yet been announced.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports, the plaintiff's attorney, Rachel-Flore Pardo, stated that the judicial confirmation brought her client "relief and hope."
The plaintiff, who spoke publicly under the pseudonym Jeanne in an interview published Thursday by the French investigative outlet Mediapart, expressed that she pursued the trial to defend herself and be heard.
Conversely, Hakimi's defense counsel, Fanny Colin, noted that the confirmation was expected, emphasizing that the referral does not equate to a declaration of guilt and that the player remains steadfast in his defense.
Following the ruling, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back and captain of the Moroccan national team took to the social media platform X to address the situation.
Hakimi stated that he had been waiting for this trial since day one and added, "At last, I will be able to speak."
The case stems from an incident in February 2023. According to Anadolu Agency, quoting reports from the French publication Ouest-France, the allegations were initially brought to the police in the Val-de-Marne region, located southeast of Paris.
A police source at the time noted that the plaintiff first connected with Hakimi on Instagram in January 2023 and later traveled to his residence in a vehicle arranged by the player.
The plaintiff alleged that Hakimi touched her without her consent and raped her before she was able to push him away and contact a friend for assistance.
Hakimi, who is currently participating in the 2026 World Cup in North America, has maintained that the accusations are entirely false.
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