The public prosecutor in Nanterre, France, has requested that Moroccan international and Paris Saint-Germain player Achraf Hakimi be referred to the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department to stand trial on charges of rape, allegations the player has vehemently denied since the beginning of the investigation. The final decision now lies with the investigating judge, who will determine whether to uphold the indictment issued on August 1. If Hakimi is sent to trial and found guilty, he could face up to 15 years in prison, according to Le Parisien. The case stems from events on the night of February 25, 2023, when a 24-year-old woman reported having met Hakimi through private Instagram messages. After over a month of exchanging messages, she accepted his invitation to visit his home in Boulogne-Billancourt, arriving via an Uber he had arranged. According to her account, Hakimi kissed her and touched her over her clothing despite her explicit refusals, and then continued until he allegedly forced her into «a sexual act against her will». She said she eventually managed to push him away with her foot and left the house, later texting a friend for help. That friend confirmed to police that the young woman appeared to be in shock and that her story seemed consistent. Although she went to a police station in Paris that same day, she did not file a formal complaint at the time. During the preliminary investigation later opened by the Nanterre prosecutor's office, she submitted messages sent to friends that reportedly reflected her psychological distress following the incident. On March 3, 2023, Hakimi was charged with rape by the investigating judge. He was placed under judicial supervision as a formal investigation was launched but was not held in custody. Throughout all proceedings, the Moroccan footballer has denied committing any forced or non-consensual sexual act. A direct confrontation between Hakimi and the complainant took place before the investigating judge on December 8, 2023. The woman maintained her accusations, while Hakimi reiterated his firm denial. Paris Saint-Germain chose to support their player, citing confidence in the judicial process and stating that his absence from training at the time was due to personal reasons. During the investigation, Hakimi claimed that the complainant had orchestrated a «premeditated setup» in an attempt to extort money from him, a claim she categorically denied. Hakimi repeated this allegation in an interview in January 2025, according to the same source.
