According to RMC Sport, Morocco national team defender Achraf Hakimi will have to stand trial over rape allegations. France national team forward Mbappe could be called to court to testify.
RMC Sport suggests that, for the time being, neither Hakimi nor Mbappe will see their participation in the ongoing 2026 World Cup in the US affected, but the incident could impact their psychological state.
The Investigation Chamber of the Versailles Court of Appeal (France) recently confirmed the charges against Hakimi regarding the case where he was accused of rape in late February 2023. During a hearing held this past May, Hakimi requested that all charges against him be dismissed.
However, on June 19, the Investigation Chamber of the Versailles Court of Appeal confirmed that the 27-year-old defender will stand trial at the Hauts-de-Seine Criminal Court in the near future, after the arguments presented by his lawyer, Fanny Colin, failed to convince the judges to overturn the ruling. Forward Mbappe is also expected to be summoned as a witness.
On his personal account on the social media platform X, Hakimi spoke out about the incident. He wrote: “Justice looked me straight in the eye and said, “if you weren’t famous, this lawsuit would never exist.” I chose to remain silent for years. I thought that maintaining dignity, being patient, and trusting in justice would help deliver the right verdicts.
Today, a story that is not mine is being fabricated, causing harm to my family and my life. Sometimes I feel like I have become an easy target to attack. I have been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I am very much looking forward to it. I can finally speak out”.
According to France’s RMC Sport and Diario SPORT newspaper (Spain), Hakimi met a 24-year-old girl through the social media platform Instagram in January 2023. The time of the alleged rape by the player took place in late February 2023, at Hakimi’s private home. This was during the time when Hakimi and Mbappe were playing together for the club PSG.
The summoning of Mbappe as a witness could be related to the details of the incident and regarding Hakimi, as the player completely rejects all allegations from the 24-year-old woman, according to RMC Sport.
