Paris Saint-Germain defender, Achraf Hakimi, has said he is prepared to stand trial following a rape allegation made against him in France.
A 24-year-old woman accused the Morocco international of raping her at his residence in Paris in 2023.
The right-back has consistently denied the allegation.
The public prosecutor’s office in Nanterre, a western suburb of the French capital, opened a preliminary investigation in March 2023 after the complaint was filed.
Since then, judicial authorities have been examining the case to determine whether it should proceed to trial.
Responding publicly to the development, Hakimi wrote on X: “Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial.
“This is as unjust to the innocent as it is to the genuine victims. I calmly await this trial, which will allow the truth to come out publicly.”
No date has yet been fixed for the trial, and BBC Sport said it has contacted the Nanterre prosecutor’s office for further comment.
The legal issue comes at a crucial time in the season for PSG, who are preparing to host AS Monaco in the second leg of their Champions League knockout round play-off tie on Wednesday. Hakimi was included in the club’s initial squad list released last week.
Born in Spain but representing Morocco at international level, the 27-year-old has been a key figure for the Parisian side since joining the club, making 194 appearances.
He played an important role in their domestic and European success last season, helping them secure both the Ligue 1 title and the UEFA Champions League trophy.
His performances were also recognised on the global stage on Monday evening in Paris, where he was named in the FIFPRO Men’s World Team of the Year at the Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony.
Hakimi further enhanced his reputation during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, playing a central role as Morocco reached the semi-finals, becoming the first African nation to achieve that milestone.
