Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has been charged with rape, French prosecutors announced today.
The 24-year-old Morocco international was questioned by prosecutors yesterday about accusations made by a woman of the same age. He was then charged.
Hakimi was alleged to have paid for his accuser to travel to his house in the French capital last Saturday while his wife and children were believed to have been away on holiday.
The woman went to a police station on Sunday and was questioned by prosecutors on Wednesday, AFP reported that sources close to the case said.
Hakimi, who was born in Madrid, Spain but starred for Morocco at the Qatar 2022 World Cup as they made history by reaching the semi-finals, trained with his PSG teammates today, according to AFP.
A spokesman for the club told the news agency that PSG “gives its support” to Hakimi and “places its trust in the justice system”.
Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin said the footballer “firmly denies all the accusations against him” and that he was the victim of “an attempted racket”.
She said Hakimi welcomed the charge laid against him because “he finally has the possibility to defend himself”.
Rachel Flore Pardo, the lawyer for the alleged victim, told AFP: “My client maintains everything that she said. She made the choice to speak exclusively to prosecutors and does not want the affair to become a media issue, mainly to protect her safety.”
Under French law, being charged does not necessarily mean the case will go to trial, AFP explained.
Hakimi was named in the FIFPRO World Men’s XI at The Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris on Monday.
