Story perspectives

France Sets Hakimi Rape Trial, He Captains Morocco

6/20/2026

Summary

Hakimi Trial

France ordered Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi to stand trial for rape.
Prosecutors opened a probe in March 2023.
A judge scheduled the trial for February 2026 and rejected Hakimi’s appeal.
Plaintiff’s lawyer Rachel-Flore Pardo said the decision gives her client relief.
Hakimi will captain Morocco in the World Cup Group C match against Scotland on Friday.

Summary

Colin Challenges Evidence

Defense lawyer Fanny Colin argued that exculpatory evidence would have caused dismissal in any other case.
Colin said the complainant’s statements contain contradictions, falsehoods, and concealed information from authorities.
She cited psychological assessments indicating the complainant’s ambivalence and lack of clarity about the events.
Observers note that the legal battle adds pressure on Morocco’s World Cup campaign while the court has not set a trial date.

Summary

Hakimi Court

Paris Saint-Germain awaits a criminal court schedule, leaving its Champions League matches in doubt.
Legal experts view the case as a test of accountability for elite European athletes.
Fans in Nairobi and across Africa confront a complex reckoning with the allegations.
The proceedings have sparked a global conversation about wealth, fame and sexual-violence accusations.
Uncertainty about the trial could affect Hakimi’s availability for PSG fixtures and his longer-term career.

History

Historical Context

In 1995 French courts convicted Manchester United star Eric Cantona of assault, replacing a two-week prison term with 120 hours of community service and an eight-month worldwide football ban—the first high-profile sanction of a European player. That precedent now frames the 2024 trial of Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, whose alleged rape threatens PSG’s Champions League campaign.

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Hakimi Trial

France ordered Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi to stand trial for rape.
Prosecutors opened a probe in March 2023.
A judge scheduled the trial for February 2026 and rejected Hakimi’s appeal.
Plaintiff’s lawyer Rachel-Flore Pardo said the decision gives her client relief.
Hakimi will captain Morocco in the World Cup Group C match against Scotland on Friday.

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