Achraf Hakimi Denies Rape Charges, Paris Prosecutors Prepare for Trial

Moroccan footballer, ACHRAF HAKIMI, has been charged with rape and is due to face trial in France. The Paris St-Germain defender confirmed the rape allegation by a twenty-four-year-old woman in a post on X. The public prosecutor's office in the western suburb of Paris began investigation of in March 2023, after the woman accused HAKIMI of raping her at his home. HAKIMI denies the allegations, and wondered how a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial, saying such move was unjust to the innocent as it is to the genuine victims. Meanwhile; Paris St-Germain will host Monaco in the second leg of their Champions League knockout round play-off tie on Wednesday, with Hakimi named in PSG's initial squad, published last Tuesday. The 27-year-old was born in Spain but represents Morocco and has made 194 appearances for Paris St-Germain, winning the Champions League and Ligue 1 titles last season. His performances saw him honoured at the Best Fifa Football Awards ceremony held in Paris on Monday evening, where he was named in the Fifpro men's world team of the year. He was also a key player as Morocco made history by reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, the first African side to do so.