The crowd at Gillette Stadium greeted Achraf Hakimi with boos and whistles during Morocco’s match against Scotland. The reaction came amid developments in his French criminal case: on June 19, 2026, a French appeals court confirmed that the Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender would face trial over an allegation of rape involving a 24-year-old woman in February 2023. The alleged incident took place at Hakimi’s home near Paris. The ruling followed a lengthy investigation and a defense appeal against the order sending the case to trial.
The Scotland fixture was set for June 19 at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, with Gillette Stadium in Foxborough listed as the venue. Hakimi has consistently denied the allegation; Mediapart described him as “vehemently” denying the charge. The decision to send the case to trial is procedural, not a finding of guilt. The allegations remain unresolved and will be considered in court.
Morocco’s coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, continued to rely on Hakimi as a basic member of the squad during the tournament, with the defender remaining captain. The case unfolded alongside Morocco’s World Cup campaign, drawing attention to the overlap between a pending prosecution and a leading player’s participation in international football. Ouahbi said Morocco was “no longer a surprise” after the team reached the quarter-finals, as reported by Gulf Times.
Hakimi did not speak to the media after the Scotland match. The complainant has discussed the case publicly in an interview with Mediapart, while Hakimi’s defense maintains that the allegations are false. The proceedings concern an accusation; the court’s decision to send the matter to trial does not determine the outcome.
Hakimi’s prominence for Morocco extends beyond his club career. He chose to represent Morocco rather than Spain after spending several days with Spain’s youth setup. In an interview on the podcast The Bridge, he recalled that he “did not feel comfortable” continuing there and linked his decision to his Moroccan background and his parents’ influence. Other high-profile athletes have faced public scrutiny too, including Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas, whose public fallout was covered in a previous report on tensions between top athletes.
A regular starter for Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain, Hakimi remains a impressive figure in the team’s campaign as the French case proceeds. Morocco’s decision to keep relying on its captain has kept the sporting contest and the legal process in the public eye. The court will decide the question of guilt or innocence.
