Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi appeared before a French appeals court on Friday to challenge an order sending him to trial over rape allegations linked to a 2023 case, according to AFP and French media reports.
Hakimi’s legal team asked the Versailles appeals court to overturn the February decision by investigating judges ordering the player to stand trial before a criminal court in the Hauts de Seine region west of Paris.
His lawyers are seeking a dismissal of the case, arguing the accusations rely solely on the complainant’s account and lack supporting evidence.
The case stems from allegations made by a 24 year old woman who told police in February 2023 that Hakimi raped her at his home near Paris after the two connected on Instagram.
French prosecutors opened an investigation despite the woman initially declining to file a formal complaint. Hakimi was later formally charged and placed under judicial supervision.
Hakimi has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and publicly maintained his innocence. Speaking earlier this year after being ordered to stand trial, the Morocco international said the accusations were false and that he trusted the judicial process to establish the truth.
If the appeal is rejected, Hakimi will face trial before a French criminal court at a later date that has not yet been announced.
His lawyer, Fanny Colin, has previously argued that the complainant obstructed parts of the investigation by refusing certain medical examinations and access to potential evidence. The complainant’s lawyer has welcomed the decision to move toward trial, saying it was consistent with the evidence gathered by investigators
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