Rabat – Lawyers for Moroccan international and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi and the civil party have reacted to Wednesday’s decision by France’s Court of Cassation to reject Hakimi’s appeal against his referral to trial.
The Court of Cassation, France’s highest court for civil and criminal matters, dismissed Hakimi’s appeal on September 23, confirming that the 27-year-old footballer will stand trial before the criminal court of Hauts-de-Seine over rape allegations dating back to 2023.
Hakimi has consistently denied the allegations.
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Civil party lawyer says the client will ‘fight to the end’
Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the woman who accused Hakimi, said her client remains determined to pursue justice.
“After three and a half years of legal battles, after being slandered and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi’s defense, my client is determined to obtain justice and will fight to the end,” Pardo said in a statement reported by AFP.
Pardo also said her client hopes the upcoming trial can contribute to helping other women and encourage further discussion about sexual violence, including within men’s football.
The case began in February 2023, when a woman then aged 24 reported Hakimi to police in the Paris region and accused him of rape. Hakimi was subsequently charged in connection with the allegations, which he has repeatedly rejected.
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Hakimi’s lawyer says evidence will be presented at trial
Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, stressed that the Court of Cassation did not examine the substance of the allegations.
“The allegations against Mr. Hakimi, which he has firmly contested from the very beginning, were not examined by the Court of Cassation,” Colin told AFP. “They will be addressed during the trial, where all elements for the defense will be presented publicly and in an adversarial manner.”
Colin added that Hakimi “has nothing to hide” and has fully cooperated with police and judicial authorities throughout the investigation. She said he would continue to cooperate during the trial.
The defender’s legal team is expected to present its arguments before the criminal court, where the evidence and competing positions will be examined publicly.
A Versailles appeals court had already confirmed Hakimi’s referral to trial on June 19. The Court of Cassation’s decision on Wednesday was his final legal appeal against that referral.
The date of the trial has not yet been announced.
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