"The accused PSG soccer player, Achraf Hakimi, has been cleared of rape charges, bringing great relief to his client"
In a significant development, French prosecutors have requested that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) player Achraf Hakimi be sent to a criminal court for trial over allegations of raping a 24-year-old woman in February 2023. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office has asked the investigating judge to refer the case to criminal court, marking a crucial step forward in the legal process.
The alleged incident took place at Hakimi's home in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine), with the young woman meeting the PSG player on the social network Instagram in January 2023. The young woman claimed that Hakimi kissed her and committed acts of sexual touching without her consent. However, she did not file a formal complaint until late February 2023, when she reported the alleged rape to a police station in the Val-de-Marne.
The decision to proceed with the referral to the Criminal Court is now with the investigating magistrate. Fanny Colin, the lawyer for Achraf Hakimi, has called the charges "incomprehensible and senseless." Meanwhile, Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer for the civil party in this case, welcomed the news with relief.
According to reports, the young woman managed to push Hakimi away during the alleged incident. She then left his home and was picked up by a friend who had been contacted by SMS. Hakimi, who is 26 years old, was charged with rape in March 2023.
If convicted, Hakimi faces up to 15 years in prison, the maximum sentence for non-aggravated rape in France. The player has denied the allegations, and his lawyer has called the prosecutors’ request “senseless” based on the evidence. Kylian Mbappe, Hakimi’s teammate, has publicly defended him.
As of early August 2025, the next step in the legal process depends on the judge’s decision regarding the referral to the Criminal Court. The case has moved to a prosecutorial recommendation for trial, but a formal court decision is pending, and the accused continues to contest the charges vigorously.
General-news outlets reported a step forward in the legal proceedings against Achraf Hakimi, as the Nanterre prosecutor’s office requested a trial at the criminal court over rape allegations. Despite this, sports-analysis suggest the case's outcome remains uncertain as Hakimi vehemently denies the charges and his lawyer deemed the prosecutors' request as senseless, with Kylian Mbappe publicly supporting him.
