The football public is once again buzzing over the case of Moroccan star and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi.
Yesterday (Friday), he appeared in person before the Court of Appeal in Versailles to request that the rape indictment be completely dismissed.
Hakimi has been accused of rape since February 2023 and he tried to challenge the previous decision before the investigative panel, which officially sent him to criminal court, while his legal team categorically rejects all the accusations of the 24-year-old girl, claiming that the footballer is the victim of a blackmail attempt and that there is no material or DNA evidence in the entire case.
In parallel with yesterday’s hearing, details of the previous testimony of his close friend and former teammate, Kylian Mbappe, also came to the public’s attention.
Hakimi faces up to 15 years in prison after rape charges
The Real Madrid star has offered his official support to the Moroccan, describing to investigators that Hakimi completely broke down in front of him and cried in a restaurant when he learned of the allegations.
Mbappe said in his statement that Hakimi admitted to having intimate contact with the girl, but expressly stressed that there was no resistance on her part, adding that he had never seen Hakimi, even under the influence of alcohol, behave in a rude or disrespectful manner towards women.
This major legal drama comes at an extremely sensitive time for Paris Saint-Germain, who will play the big Champions League final against English team Arsenal in Budapest in exactly seven days.
Even though he is under great media and psychological pressure, Hakimi is still a standard first-team player, on whom coach Luis Enrique is seriously relying.
The court will make a final decision on whether Hakim’s appeal will be successful on June 19, and if it is rejected, the Moroccan faces a trial and a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
