Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi will stand trial in France following a major judicial decision. The country’s highest court has officially rejected his final legal challenge against trial referral.
The Court of Cassation dismissed the Moroccan defender’s appeal on Wednesday morning. This confirms his referral to the departmental criminal court of Hauts-de-Seine. The legal proceedings stem from serious rape allegations made by a young woman in 2023.
This judgment marks the culmination of several complex legal proceedings in France. An investigating judge initially ordered the football star to face trial back in February. Hakimi challenged that directive, but the Versailles Court of Appeal upheld it in June. Subsequently, the defender took his legal fight to the highest court in the land.
The allegations date back to an incident at his Boulogne-Billancourt residence near Paris. A woman reported that the footballer sexually assaulted her inside his private home. However, the international defender has consistently denied every single accusation made against him.
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Following the appellate court ruling, the defender expressed a desire to present his defense publicly. He previously stated that he was looking forward to the trial to clear his name.
Importantly, the decision by the Court of Cassation does not establish guilt or innocence. Instead, the ruling merely confirms that sufficient legal grounds exist to conduct a trial. The upcoming criminal proceedings in Hauts-de-Seine will evaluate all presented evidence thoroughly.
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An official date for the trial has not yet been publicly scheduled by authorities.
Despite the ongoing legal scrutiny, the 27-year-old full-back continues playing professional football at the elite level. He remains a critical starter for both Paris Saint-Germain and the Moroccan national team. Furthermore, he featured prominently for the Atlas Lions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
