Morocco footballer Achraf Hakimi to face trial over rape allegation

Morocco international footballer Achraf Hakimi is set to face trial after a French court decided there was sufficient evidence to proceed with a rape allegation against him.

According to judicial sources, a 24-year-old woman filed a complaint against Hakimi in Paris in March 2023. After a lengthy investigation, the French appeal court ruled that the case contains enough elements to justify a trial, requiring Hakimi to appear before the court.

The court's decision stated that the investigation report, after review, provided sufficient grounds to proceed with the charges. The case will now move to the trial phase.

The plaintiff's lawyer said his client is finally moving towards justice after a long investigation, adding that the trial would send a message of hope to other survivors of sexual assault.

Hakimi has denied the allegations. In a social media post, he suggested that if he were not a well-known figure, the case might not have progressed this far.

The case comes at a time when the Morocco national team is preparing for important international matches, drawing widespread discussion in the sporting world.