PSG defender Hakimi to face rape trial after court rejects final appeal

Paris Saint-Germain defender, Achraf Hakimi, is set to stand trial over a rape allegation.

This comes after France’s highest court rejected Hakimi’s final appeal on Wednesday.

It means that the proceedings before a criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department are imminent.

L’Équipe reports that the Cour de cassation rejected Hakimi’s appeal, ruling that there were no serious grounds to admit it.

This decision has been confirmed by Hakimi’s lawyer, Bertrand Périer, in a statement.

“The Cour de cassation has rejected Achraf Hakimi’s appeal, judging that no serious means were of a nature to allow its admission, in accordance with the opinion of the rapporteur and the conclusions of the advocate general,” Périer said.

The complainant’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, also made it clear that her client is determined to pursue the case.

“After three and a half years of judicial combat, after having been slandered and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi’s defence, my client is determined to obtain justice, she will fight to the end,” Pardo said.

“She hopes with all her heart that this trial will help other women, and crack a little more the fortress of denial and impunity for sexual violence, even in the world of men’s football,” she added.