French Prosecutors Target Achraf Hakimi in High-Profile Rape Case
Few stories in football have the kind of gravity Achraf Hakimi now faces. French prosecutors are pushing for a criminal trial that could put one of Paris Saint-Germain’s top defenders, and a standout for Morocco’s national team, behind bars for up to 15 years. At the center of the storm—a rape allegation from early 2023 involving a 24-year-old woman met via social media.
The details coming out of the Nanterre prosecutor’s office paint a picture that’s rapidly become a test case for how France handles sexual assault accusations involving celebrities. On August 1, 2025, prosecutors formally asked for a criminal trial after months of investigation. The alleged incident dates back to February 25, 2023, when Hakimi, then 26, met the accuser at his home in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside Paris. The two, according to reports, had been in touch through Instagram since January. The woman visited Hakimi’s home while his wife and children were away.
After the encounter, the woman reported what happened to police but stopped short of filing a formal complaint. That unusual step didn’t stop authorities. French law allows prosecutors to take matters into their own hands if they believe there’s enough evidence, which is what happened here.
Hakimi Denies All Allegations as Football Career Looms Large
Hakimi didn’t wait long to push back. From the start, he’s called the encounter consensual, accusing the woman of targeting him for money—a claim his legal team supports, pointing to what they say are inconsistencies in her story and evidence suggesting possible extortion. Still, in March 2023, Hakimi was slapped with preliminary rape charges and placed under judicial supervision. Since then, he’s been under tight legal controls as prosecutors examined private messages, digital evidence, and witness statements.
If convicted, Hakimi could face as much as 15 years in prison under French law. Few footballers have ever stared down criminal consequences this serious while still playing at the top tier.
All of this unraveled during the peak of Hakimi’s career. On the pitch, he was a driving force in PSG’s Champions League run and helped Morocco reach the FIFA World Cup semifinals in 2022—a feat never before achieved by an African nation. Teammates and coaches have mostly avoided public comment, though whispers in the locker room suggest deep shock and concern about how this might affect their star defender’s future.
The next step now rests with the investigating judge, who will decide if the case moves to trial. This decision might set a precedent for how criminal accusations against public figures are prosecuted in France—especially athletes at the height of their fame.
While Hakimi’s legal drama plays out, fans and football insiders are left asking: Could one of Morocco’s and PSG’s brightest footballers spend his prime years behind bars? The world of sport is watching every move, waiting for the court’s answer to a case that mixes celebrity, power, and the high stakes of personal accountability.