Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has shared his thoughts after a French court rejected his appeal against rape accusations.
The 27-year-old has been facing accusations of raping a 24-year-old woman at her home in Paris in 2023, after which an investigation was launched.
In February 2026, an investigating judge ordered a trial. But French media have reported that Hakimi’s recent appeal to have the trial dismissed has been denied.
After the appeal was rejected, Hakimi took to his social media account and shared a cryptic message.
“Justice looked me in the eyes and said to me: “If you weren’t famous, there never would have been a case,” he wrote.
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The Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG) defender said he remained silent for years, believing that patience and trust in the justice system would lead to the right outcome.
“I chose to remain silent for years. I thought that staying dignified, being patient, and trusting the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made,” he continued.
The Morocco captain said a narrative that was not his own was being told at the expense of his family, his life, and what he described as the truth, adding that he sometimes felt he had become an easy target.
“Today, a story that is not mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. Sometimes I feel like I’ve become an easy target.”
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“I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it. Finally, I will be able to speak,” he concluded.
It is worth noting that all three of Morocco’s league-stage matches are scheduled in the United States. If his side advances to the knockout stages, he could be barred from entering Canada or Mexico for Morocco matches.
For those unaware, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who is also facing similar charges, has been denied entry to Canada ahead of his side’s clash against Panama at the World Cup co-hosts.
The 32-year-old Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault by four different women between 2020 and 2022.
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