PSG Star Achraf Hakimi To Stand Trial In Sexual Assault Case
Sports Updated: 25 February 2026 13:53 EAT
Hakimi will be tried by the Criminal Court for r*pe. Hakimi claims he only kissed the young woman
In early 2026, French legal authorities took the rare step of formally referring Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain defender and Moroccan international, to a criminal court on charges connected to an alleged sexual assault. The case dates back to February 2023, when a young woman reported to police that she had been taken advantage of at Hakimi’s residence in Boulogne-Billancourt after meeting him through social media. That complaint triggered an investigation by French judicial officials, who spent months reviewing evidence and interviewing both sides.
By March 2023, investigators had opened a preliminary probe, and soon after an examining magistrate decided there was sufficient ground to place Hakimi under formal investigation — a significant procedural step in the French legal system that precedes trial referral. Over the following months and into 2024 and 2025, the case remained under active judicial review, with Hakimi’s lawyers contesting the strength of the evidence and questioning aspects of the complainant’s account.
In early 2026, prosecutors concluded their review and presented the matter to a criminal court, which accepted the file and ordered that Hakimi be tried on rape charges. This referral does not mean a trial has taken place yet, but it does mean that judges determined the case contains enough substance to proceed to public hearings where both sides can present their arguments and evidence.
The alleged victim’s lawyer expressed relief that the court decided to move forward with a trial, emphasizing that the decision reflects an assessment of the investigative material presented by the prosecution. For supporters of the complainant, the referral was seen as an important step in holding powerful individuals accountable and ensuring that accusations of sexual violence are examined thoroughly within the legal framework.
Hakimi, for his part, has maintained his innocence throughout. On his social media account, he challenged the narrative that led to the trial referral, stressing that the accusation itself was being treated in a way he considered unjust to both “innocent people” and genuine survivors. He reiterated that he would cooperate with the judicial process and that a trial would allow the truth to emerge in public.
Legal experts in France have noted that trials for sexual offences follow strict procedural safeguards, and that defendants have the right to full defense and a fair hearing. Being referred to trial is an intermediate step; a conviction can only come after judges review witness statements, forensic evidence, and all other relevant material during the court proceedings.
Hakimi’s defense team has argued in filings that the case should not have advanced to trial, citing gaps in corroborating evidence and questioning the reliability of key testimony. They have framed the situation as one where allegations were taken at face value without sufficient independent support. Prosecutors, however, defended their recommendation for trial referral, asserting that the investigative file contained enough elements to justify public examination by a criminal court.
The footballer’s club, PSG, has mostly refrained from commenting in detail, emphasizing that legal matters are handled by the justice system and that the club respects due process. Meanwhile, fans and the wider football community have followed developments closely, with reactions ranging from defensive support for Hakimi to calls for due accountability should the allegations be proven.
As of now, no trial date has been officially scheduled, and neither side has presented their case in open court. The upcoming proceedings — whenever they begin — will be closely watched, not just for their implications for Hakimi’s career but also for broader discussions about how allegations of sexual violence involving high-profile figures are investigated and adjudicated in France.
For readers seeking clarity: referral to a criminal court in France means the investigation has closed and a judge believes there is cause to hold a trial, not that the accused has been found guilty. The trial itself will be the setting where evidence is rigorously evaluated and where Hakimi and the complainant will each have the opportunity to make their case under French law.
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FELIX MAKONA
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