Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi to stand trial for rape

The first charges were brought in March 2023, alleging that Hakimi raped the victim at his Paris home.

Hakimi, 27, also plays as right back for Paris Saint-Germain, appealed a judge's verdict in February.

He denies the charges and is now set to stand trial.

Following an inquiry and judicial investigation, the appeal court in Versailles said Hakimi ought to be formally charged.

Read also: Paris St Germain defender Achraf Hakimi faces preliminary rape charges

Read also: When is Scotland's next World Cup game?

Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer for alleged victim, said the ruling "brings my client a sense of relief and hope".

Ms Pardo said her client had been "defamed and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi's defense".

"[I] hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including within the world of men's football", she told Associated Press.

But Hakimi said on X: "Justice looked me in the eyes and said to me: 'If you weren't famous, there never would have been a case'".

Fanny Colin, the footballer's lawyer, said: "The multitude of exculpatory elements uncovered during the investigation and judicial inquiry would, in any other case, have to led to the dismissal of the proceedings".

She said: "Achraf Hakimi's defense regrets that no consequences were drawn from the contradictions and false statements made by the complainant, her concealment of information from the judicial authorities. her obstruction of the search for the truth, and the psychological assessments noting both her ambivalence and her lack of clarity regarding the events she reported."

A date for the trial has not yet been set.

The news comes ahead of Morocco's game against Scotland at 11pm on Friday.

Scotland are looking to make history after their 1-0 victory against Haiti last week.

The last time they appeared in the World Cup was 1998, where they lost 3-0 to Morocco.