2 hours ago Morocco skipper Achraf Hakimi volition basal proceedings for rape, French prosecutors person confirmed.
A pistillate accused the Paris St-Germain defender of raping her astatine his location successful the French superior successful 2023, erstwhile she was aged 24.
The nationalist prosecutor's bureau successful Nanterre, a occidental suburb of Paris, began a preliminary probe successful March 2023.
An investigating justice ordered a proceedings successful February 2026 and French media study that Hakimi failed with a caller entreaty to person the proceedings dismissed.
Hakimi, who is acceptable to pb his broadside retired for their 2nd World Cup fixture against Scotland connected Friday (23:00 BST), has consistently denied the accusations.
"The justness strategy looked maine successful the oculus and said, 'If you weren't famous, determination would ne'er person been a case,'" Hakimi wrote connected societal media connected Friday.
"I chose to stay soundless for years. I believed that maintaining my dignity, being patient, and trusting successful the justness strategy would let the close decisions to beryllium made.
"Today, a communicative that isn't excavation is being told astatine the disbursal of my family, my life, and supra all, the truth. I sometimes consciousness similar I've go an casual target.
"I've been waiting for this proceedings since time one. And present I'm eagerly awaiting it. Finally, I'll beryllium capable to speak."
Rachel-Flore Pardo, the plaintiff's lawyer said successful a statement: "After much than 3 years of ineligible proceedings, and aft my lawsuit was, successful her view, defamed and dragged done the mud by Achraf Hakimi's defence, this determination brings her alleviation and hope.
"Relief that she has been heard by the justness strategy and volition person the close to a trial.
"Hope that this proceedings volition assistance different women and further weaken the partition of denial and impunity surrounding intersexual violence, including successful the satellite of men's football."
A day has not yet been acceptable for the commencement of the trial.
All 3 of Morocco's radical signifier fixtures are being held successful the United States, wherever the squad are presently based.
But should Morocco advancement to the knockout stages, Hakimi could look difficulties successful entering Canada oregon Mexico if their matches are scheduled extracurricular the United States.
Last week, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed his country's opener against Panama aft being denied introduction to World Cup co-hosts Canada.
Partey, 32, has pleaded not blameworthy to 7 charges of rape and 1 number of intersexual battle relating to allegations by 4 antithetic women betwixt 2020 and 2022.
He is owed to basal proceedings adjacent year.
Canada's authorities website states that they tin contradict introduction to immoderate idiosyncratic that has "committed oregon been convicted of a crime".
The World Cup is being held crossed each 3 co-host countries until the quarter-final stage, erstwhile it volition beryllium held exclusively successful the US.
Hakimi, who has won 97 caps for Morocco, made his planetary debut successful 2016 astatine the property of 17.
He was a cardinal fig successful the Morocco broadside that became the archetypal African federation to scope the semi-finals of the World Cup successful 2022.
The defender joined Paris St-Germain from Inter Milan successful 2021, and has won 13 pieces of silverware during his clip astatine the nine - including back-to-back Champions League titles successful the past 2 seasons.
English (US)·