Hakimi's Trial Ordered
PSG star Achraf Hakimi to stand trial on rape allegations after appeal fails
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Scotland fans booed PSG star Achraf Hakimi every time he touched the ball during Morocco's 2026 World Cup Group C match on June 19 — the same day a French court ruled he must stand trial for rape, according to The Scottish Sun. The Versailles Court of Appeal rejected Hakimi's bid to have the case dismissed, confirming the 27-year-old will face criminal proceedings over allegations dating back to February 2023.
The match, played in front of 64,146 fans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, was charged with tension from the opening whistle, according to The Sun. The court ruling broke just hours before kick-off, and Scotland's famously vocal supporters — known as the Tartan Army — used it to apply relentless pressure on Morocco's captain throughout the game.
How a 2023 Instagram Message Led to a Rape Trial
The case begins in January 2023, when Hakimi and a 24-year-old woman — identified by the pseudonym "Jeanne" — started messaging on Instagram. On February 25, 2023, the woman says Hakimi paid for an Uber to bring her to his home in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, while his wife and children were on holiday, according to the Associated Press. She alleges she was raped at his residence that night.
The woman reported the incident the very next day at a police station in Val-de-Marne. She did not initially file a formal complaint. But under French law, prosecutors can open a sexual assault investigation without one if there is enough evidence. Hakimi was placed under formal investigation — the French equivalent of being charged — by March 3, 2023. A three-year inquiry followed before a judge ordered a full trial in February 2026.
Court Rejects Hakimi's Dismissal Bid Hours Before Kickoff
On May 22, 2026, Hakimi's lawyer Fanny Colin argued before the Versailles Court of Appeal that the case should be dropped. The defense pointed to a lack of DNA evidence and what it called contradictions in the accuser's testimony. Colin has previously called the case "an attempt at racketeering" and noted the woman initially refused a medical exam, according to the Associated Press.
The court disagreed. On June 19 — just hours before Morocco's World Cup match — judges ruled there were sufficient grounds for a full criminal trial. The plaintiff's lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, called the decision a moment of "relief and hope," saying her client had been "heard." The accuser, "Jeanne," told Mediapart the previous day: "I want people to believe me."
Tartan Army Boos Fill Gillette Stadium as Hakimi Plays On
Scotland fans did not let the courtroom drama stay off the pitch. Every time Hakimi received the ball, the Tartan Army unleashed loud, sustained booing. Chants of "No means no" were heard inside Gillette Stadium, according to The Scottish Sun. The hostile reaction created an extraordinary atmosphere — a World Cup match effectively doubling as a public referendum on a live criminal case.
Hakimi, for his part, did not stay silent. After the court ruling, he posted on social media: "Justice looked me in the eye and said: 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case.' I've been waiting for this trial since day one. Finally, I will be able to speak." Scotland's next match is against Brazil, with the team still playing in Miami, according to South Coast Today.
What Comes Next: A Trial, a Potential Visa Ban, and 15 Years at Stake
No trial date has been set. The proceedings are widely expected to begin in late 2026, after the World Cup ends. If convicted of rape under the French Penal Code, Hakimi faces up to 15 years in prison. A conviction would also likely trigger a suspension under FIFA's ethical guidelines, putting his club career at PSG in serious jeopardy.
There is also a more immediate concern: travel. If Morocco advances to knockout rounds held in Canada or Mexico, Hakimi could face entry restrictions due to his active rape trial status — a situation similar to one that arose for Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey. For now, the Moroccan squad's "Golden Generation" is pushing on at the 2026 World Cup, with their captain at the center of one of football's biggest off-field storms.
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