The report says Hakimi believes he became an “easy target” and that the “truth had been overlooked”. His position is clear: he wants the opportunity to present his version of events in court rather than have the allegations define him from outside the courtroom.
The wording is striking, but the legal process remains unfinished. A referral to a criminal court is not a finding of guilt, and the allegations against Hakimi have yet to be tested at trial.
French media have reportedly said the Versailles appeals court rejected Hakimi’s challenge against the earlier decision to send the case forward. If that account is accurate, the case can now proceed to a criminal court at a later date.
Hakimi was placed under preliminary charges after a woman made an accusation against him. He has consistently denied wrongdoing, while the next stage will determine how the allegations are examined in full.
For now, football is also demanding his attention. Hakimi is expected to rejoin Morocco before their World Cup match against Scotland on Friday, placing the defender back in an international environment while the legal story continues in the background.
As one of Morocco’s most important players, his presence carries obvious sporting significance. The immediate challenge will be maintaining focus, with the next fixture offering a public measure of how he responds under intense scrutiny. Beyond that match, the court timetable will become the next major storyline in Hakimi’s career.