Achraf Hakimi, a defender for Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco, has been officially accused of rape by French authorities. Hakimi, 24, is charged with raping a lady last month at his suburban Paris residence. On Sunday of last week, a 23-year-old lady went to a police station to report an incident but didn’t press charges.
An inquiry into the matter was started earlier this week. On Friday morning, it was reported that he had been charged over the claims after being questioned by detectives on Thursday. The claims are ‘false,’ according to what Hakimi’s attorney said earlier in the week.
‘The accusations are false. He is calm and is making himself available to the authorities,’ Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin said. ‘The club supports the player, who has firmly denied the accusations and trusts the justice system,’ PSG said in a statement earlier this week. ‘Paris St-Germain is an institution that promotes respect on and off the pitch,’ it added.
Achraf Hakimi has been vital for PSG and Morocco’s exploits this season
The public prosecutor’s office handling the case refused to comment when asked earlier this week but stated material that had been published in the media ‘undermined the essential investigations to find out the truth’. According to the accusations’ report, published in a reputed French publication, Hakimi was only informed of the investigation’s opening 90 minutes before Monday night’s Best FIFA Football Awards celebration in Paris.
In recognition of his efforts, he was named to the FIFPro men’s world squad of the year at the ceremony. Together with other victors, including his PSG teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, Hakimi took the stage to accept the trophy.
Hakimi, a Madrid-born, was a member of the Morocco team that finished fourth in Qatar in the World Cup. His spot-kick helped Morocco enter uncharted grounds of the World Cup quarterfinals and eventually the semifinals after they beat Spain in the Round of 16 by securing a 3-0 victory in the penalty shootout. The North African team eventually became the first team from the Arab world to reach the semifinals of the World Cup.
Here’s how fans reacted to the update:
At this point the responsible thing to do is think it's a false allegation.
— Decadence (@Decadence_3) March 3, 2023
Cristiano also got charged. Turned out he was innocent and the woman has to pay him a million dollars. Innocent till proven guilty.
— Balanced Breakfast ?? (@KirvinMoesquit) March 3, 2023
Ek aur Prison FC joinee
— Cricket Fan 07 (@Manas_pr_sharma) March 3, 2023
Ronaldo's his idol btw
— Swavey ? (@idk_you999) March 3, 2023
Footballers these days are treated like gods and begin to think they are one and can do what they like
— Dark Side of the Moon (@walter_walper) March 3, 2023
No way is this true no way
— ? (@ebz7i) March 3, 2023
Made in Madrid
— Mustard (@Mustardfcb) March 3, 2023
Innocent till proven guilty
— Scorpio (@Scorpio_Sapien) March 3, 2023
