Achraf Hakimi, Morocco’s World Cup captain, to stand trial on rape charge

A French appeals tribunal confirmed that Morocco skipper Hakimi volition look proceedings for the alleged rape of a pistillate successful 2023, which helium denies.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender Achraf Hakimi, who is owed to articulation Morocco’s World Cup squad against Scotland aboriginal connected Friday, said helium faced proceedings connected a rape complaint and welcomed the accidental to enactment crossed his constituent of view.

Hakimi, who played for Morocco during their World Cup opener against Brazil connected Sunday, had appealed his referral to a transgression court.

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French media reported earlier that the Versailles appeals tribunal had rejected the appeal, paving the mode for his proceedings successful a transgression tribunal astatine immoderate constituent successful the future.

“Today, a communicative that isn’t excavation is being told astatine the disbursal of my family, my life, and supra all, ⁠the truth. Sometimes I consciousness similar ⁠I’ve go an casual target,” Hakimi wrote successful a station connected societal media level X.

“I’ve been waiting for this proceedings since time one. And present I’m looking guardant to it. Finally, I’ll beryllium capable to talk out.”

The Nanterre prosecutor’s bureau successful the French superior of Paris had opened an probe successful 2023 aft a pistillate accused him of rape.

Hakimi, 1 of the champion right-backs successful the world, denies immoderate wrongdoing. He faced preliminary charges of rape successful March 2023 aft the 24-year-old pistillate said she was raped by Hakimi astatine his location successful a Paris suburb.

It was not instantly wide erstwhile the proceedings would start. Reuters quality bureau said that the Versailles appeals tribunal and Hakimi’s lawyer did not instantly respond to their requests for comment.