Alleged Rape Case: Why Hakimi's Ballon d'Or Bid Stirs More Than Applause?

Morocco World

3 days ago

Rabat – Morocco's superstar — or 'his mom's darling,' as fans affectionately call him in admiration of his close family ties – Achraf Hakimi is facing a legal drama that resurfaced as his career hits new highs.
The Atlas Lion, however, gained a powerful wave of solidarity as more conflicting testimonies and hidden messages surrounding the case have come to light. What's particularly suspicious is the timing.
The case surrounding the unproven rape allegations and claims dates back to early 2023. The case, however, is now being pushed back into the headlines after the Nanterre prosecutor's office said Hakimi might face trial for these allegations just days before the announcement of the Ballon d'Or.
This raised questions about whether the allegations were ever about justice at all.
French football-focused website L'Equipe has published a timeline of the legal case that Hakimi is facing in France, stemming from a complaint a 24-year-old woman filed against him in early 2023. The claims
L'Equipe reported that the case dates back to February 24, 2023, when Hakimi invited a 24-year-old woman to his place. The woman had been chatting with Hakimi through Instagram before their meeting.
She claimed he 'kissed her without her consent,' alleging that they had a 'long conversation.'
What raises even more questions and suspicion is the contrast between the complainant's claims. She alleged that she 'repeatedly asked' Hakimi to stop and 'expressed fear about the personal consequences her revelations might bring.'
However, she alleged that she only sought to report the incident at the police station without pressing formal charges. In her complaint, she said Hakimi 'was not violent.'
During the same night with Hakimi, she maintained text conversations with her friend. The same friend eventually came to pick her up.
Many also suspected the case, as the woman herself emphasized she was actively using her phone throughout the encounter. Given Hakim's high-profile status, many suggest that it will be unlikely for the player to risk being secretly recorded or filmed during the situation.
The complainant's friend received messages like 'This is really serious. I'm coming back, it's really serious. He's raping me, I swear on my mother's life. I can't get out.'
Funny, Colin, Hakimi's lawyer said the complainant refused to share the messages exchanged before she arrived at Hakimi's house.
She said this shows a 'deliberate attempt to hide the truth.'
L'Equipe, however, quoted messages investigators obtained before she arrived at Hakimi's house.
'Ugh, I'm so pissed lol,' the complainant said in a message before her friend asked her to listen to the rap song 'A l'abri' by 'Fresh La Peufra.'
'I had no choice but to take this risk to protect my family,' the complainant said. The friend also asked the complainant to play the role of a 'femme fatale.'
'Try to crack the codes and everything…We're gonna rob him…. We're street girls,' some of the messages between the two friends read.
Hakimi's lawyer said the messages about 'cracking the codes' are an attempted blackmail scheme. Hakimi's testimony
On March 2, 2023, Hakimi gave his testimony on the case, emphasizing that the woman was lying.
He stressed that her allegations sought to destroy his career. Hakimi acknowledged that they kissed and laughed because her lip gloss stung.
He said they went to the kitchen to rinse their mouths and kissed again, and moved to the couch, where she continued using her phone.
'She told me she was working, which I respected. We kept kissing -longer kisses- with my hand on her lower back. She said, Nothing will happen on the first night. I respected that. I said Ok. We kept kissing, but she kept using her phone,' Hakimi said. Mbappe's testimony
Kylian Mbappe also gave his statement to the investigators. Hakimi's former teammate said that he discussed the situation with Hakimi and emphasized he trusts his friend.
'Achraf Hakimi is respectful toward women. Even when drunk, I've never seen him act inappropriately,' Mbappe said.
He added, 'Even when I wasn't there, no female friends ever came back to me saying he crossed any lines.'
Fans in Morocco and France are increasingly suspecting a calculated maneuver behind the case and its sudden resurfacing, especially as the Ballon d'Or nominations approach.
Many see this as a targeted attack fueled by jealousy.
One commentator on X said : ' Just days before the Ballon d'Or nominations, France brought out a file against Haimi. It's disgraceful! The French are consumed by jealousy and cannot accept that a Moroccan might be the best.'
Another one added: 'Just to get him out of the Ballon d'Or picture, what a cheap move, and the club didn't say anything about it better for Hakimi to go to another club.'
'They can fabricate cases, bribe journalists, and try to tarnish his name… Hakimi keeps moving forward, crushing everything in his path. Next stop: Ballon d'Or 2025,' another one said . Tags: Achraf HakimiAchraf Hakimi and Kylian Mbappe