Ashraf Hakimi to Stand Trial for Rape after Cassation Rejects Appeal

The French Court of Cassation on Wednesday rejected an appeal by PSG captain Ashraf Hakimi, clearing the way for him to face trial on a rape charge at the criminal court in Hauts-de-Seine, in the Paris region.

The decision ends a further round of appeals by the player's defence and confirms that the case will proceed to the criminal court in Nanterre, which covers parts of Hauts-de-Seine.

Long-running legal process

The referral to trial was already upheld by the Versailles Court of Appeal in June last year, after a first-instance decision in February. The matter dates back to 2023, when a 24-year-old woman accused Hakimi of raping her at his home in Boulogne-Billancourt. From the outset, Hakimi has maintained his innocence, saying contacts with the complainant were consensual.

Hakimi commented after the appellate ruling that he was "impatient" to have the matter adjudicated, viewing the trial as an opportunity to reach a definitive resolution.

Hakimi's lawyer, Fani Colin, declined to comment on the latest ruling. The plaintiff's attorney, Rachel-Flor Pardo, said her client is "determined to see the trial through to obtain justice" after three-and-a-half years of legal battle.

Bertrand Perrier, counsel for the civil party, said the Supreme Court's decision confirms "the firmness and rigour" of the reasoning adopted by the earlier courts.

Photo: press material from the event