Rabat – French prosecutors announced on Friday that Moroccan international footballer Achraf Hakimi is facing alleged rape charges, AFP reported.
Prosecutors questioned Hakimi, who plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain, on Thursday to determine his alleged connection with a rape case.
A 24-year-old woman accused the PSG right-back of allegedly raping her in his house, while his wife and two sons were away for holiday.
The woman filed a report at a police station last week, accusing Hakimi of allegedly raping her on January 16. The plaintiff said that she first talked to the football player through Instagram.
The football player denied the accusations against him. Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin described the allegations as “false.”
“The accusations against him are false. He is calm and is at the disposal of justice,” the lawyer told French news outlet Le Parisien.
Spanish news outlet Marca also recently said the footballer is “confident” about his innocence.
The rape allegations against Hakimi come amid converging reports that Hakimi’s partner Hiba Abouk has “started the procedures to separate” from the footballer.
Marca said that the process started a week ago, citing their “different visions of life” as a reason for a turbulent period in their relationship
The rape accusations appeared on the same day Hakimi was recognized as the world’s best right-back during the FIFA Best Awards. The sport’s international governing body put Hakimi in their Men’s World 11.
AFP said that Hakimi was spotted at the PSG training session on Friday morning.
Recently this week, news reports quoted a source within PSG that expressed support for Hakimi.
“The club is in support of the player, who has firmly denied the accusations,” French media quoted a source within the club as saying.
Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram 