Achraf Hakimi appears before Versailles appeal chamber as legal case enters key stage

Achraf Hakimi is due to appear on Friday before the investigating chamber of the Court of Appeal of Versailles, in the latest legal development involving the Paris Saint-Germain defender.

The hearing comes after investigating judges requested in February that the Morocco international’s case be referred to the Hauts-de-Seine departmental criminal court. Hakimi is accused of rape in connection with alleged events dating back to February 2023.

According to reports in France, Hakimi is seeking to challenge that referral order and avoid the case moving forward to trial at this stage. Friday’s appearance is tied to that appeal request, with the Versailles chamber set to examine whether the referral should stand.

A major off-pitch moment for Hakimi

The timing adds another layer to an already demanding period for the 26-year-old. On the football side, Hakimi has been working to stay focused on PSG’s season after recovering from a tear in the hamstring of his right thigh. At the same time, the legal process has continued to move forward in the background.

For PSG, Hakimi remains one of the most important players in the squad when fit. His speed, attacking output from right-back, and ability to cover ground in transition make him a central piece in the team’s structure. That is why any major off-field development involving him inevitably draws attention well beyond France.

Still, the immediate issue on Friday is not sporting. It is a procedural hearing with potentially significant consequences for what happens next in the case.

What the hearing is about

The central question is whether Hakimi can successfully overturn the order that would send the case to criminal court.

If the investigating chamber sides with his appeal, that could alter the route of the proceedings. If it rejects the request, the referral would remain in place and the case would continue on the path toward trial.

This stage does not determine guilt or innocence. Instead, it addresses whether the lower judges’ decision to refer the case should be upheld.

In practical terms, Friday’s hearing matters because it shapes the next legal step:

• Hakimi is challenging the referral order requested by the investigating judges.
• The Versailles appeal chamber will decide whether that challenge succeeds.
• A rejection would keep the case moving toward criminal court.
• A favorable ruling for Hakimi would prevent that referral in its current form.

Hakimi continues to deny the accusation

Since the case first emerged, Hakimi has consistently denied the accusation against him.

In comments made in mid-April, he reiterated that position clearly and publicly.

“I know this accusation is false. I feel calm and I am focused on the future. I leave that in the hands of my lawyers and the courts.”

That statement reflects the line his defense has maintained throughout the process: a categorical denial coupled with an emphasis on allowing the legal system to run its course.

Hakimi is expected to be present alongside his lawyer, Maître Fanny Colin. Reported by French media ahead of the hearing, Colin declined to comment in detail on the matter.

“No comment.”

That brief response was in keeping with the sensitivity of the case and the fact that Friday’s hearing concerns an ongoing judicial process.

Why this matters beyond the courtroom

Any case involving a player of Hakimi’s profile immediately becomes a major football story as well as a legal one. He is not a fringe squad member or a little-known figure. He is one of PSG’s most recognisable players, a senior Morocco international, and a footballer who has performed on the biggest stages in the sport.

That visibility changes the scale of the coverage. It also increases the scrutiny on every procedural step.

From a football perspective, clubs and supporters often try to separate on-pitch performance from off-pitch matters, but in high-profile cases that line is rarely clean. The legal calendar can affect public perception, media attention, and the atmosphere around a player even when the sporting schedule remains unchanged.

In Hakimi’s case, that is especially true because this hearing arrives during an important stretch of the season. His return from injury had already placed attention on his physical condition and availability. Now, the legal process is once again moving into the foreground.

The current state of the case

As things stand, the key points are straightforward:

• Hakimi has been accused of rape over alleged events from February 2023.
• Investigating judges requested in February that the case be referred to the Hauts-de-Seine departmental criminal court.
• Hakimi denies the accusation.
• He is appearing before the investigating chamber in Versailles to contest that referral.
• The chamber must now decide whether the case continues toward trial or whether the appeal changes that course.

That makes Friday less about new allegations and more about legal direction. The substance of the accusation remains unchanged. What is changing is the procedural stage.

What comes next

The next step depends entirely on the appeal chamber’s ruling.

If the chamber confirms the referral order, the case would stay on course for criminal court. If it overturns the order, that would represent a significant legal win for Hakimi and his defense team, at least at this stage of proceedings.

Until that decision arrives, there is little certainty beyond the fact that this is an important moment in the broader case.

For Hakimi, the objective is clear: prevent the referral from taking effect and avoid a trial. For the court, the task is narrower and procedural: assess whether the referral order should stand under law.

That distinction matters. Friday’s hearing is not the end of the case, but it may prove to be one of its most consequential checkpoints so far.

A case that will continue to draw close attention

Because of Hakimi’s status in the game, the outcome of this hearing will be watched closely in France and beyond. PSG supporters, Moroccan football followers, and the wider European football audience will all be waiting for clarity on what the appeal chamber decides.

For now, the only certainty is that the case has entered another decisive phase. Hakimi is trying to stop it from advancing to criminal court, while the Versailles investigating chamber prepares to rule on whether that attempt succeeds.

Whatever the outcome, Friday marks a significant point in a legal process that has continued to run alongside one of football’s busiest calendars.