Achraf Hakimi to face rape trial in 2027 after legal appeals fail

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi is scheduled to stand trial for rape in 2027 after the French Court of Cassation rejected his final legal appeals. The court ruled that the case will proceed before the criminal court of Hauts-de-Seine.

The allegations stem from an incident on February 25, 2023, in Boulogne-Billancourt, where a young woman accused the 27-year-old Moroccan player of sexual assault. The victim's lawyer, Rachel Flore Pardo, stated that the client remains determined to seek justice and hopes the trial will address issues of impunity regarding sexual violence in men's football.

Following the announcement, RMC pundit Bruno Poncet called for Hakimi to temporarily suspend his professional football career until the legal proceedings are concluded, arguing that ethical values should take precedence over sporting interests.