A French court has upheld a decision to send Paris Saint-Germain footballer Achraf Hakimi to trial over an alleged rape, paving the way for the Moroccan international to face criminal proceedings.

Hakimi, 27, is accused of raping a woman in 2023, an allegation he has repeatedly denied.

The decision was confirmed by an appeals court on June 19, according to information provided by AFP. Hakimi had challenged an earlier order requiring him to stand trial and subsequently appealed to France’s highest court for civil and criminal matters, the Court of Cassation.

The appeal was Hakimi’s final legal recourse after a criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department ordered him to stand trial in February.

Hakimi first challenged the order before the Versailles appeals court, which upheld the decision in June. He then took the matter to the Court of Cassation.

The case dates back to February 2023, when a woman, then aged 24, reported to police in the Val-de-Marne region, southeast of Paris, that Hakimi had raped her.

Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP following the latest court decision.

Meanwhile, the alleged victim’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said her client remained determined to pursue justice after years of legal proceedings.

The case has attracted considerable attention because of Hakimi’s status as an international footballer and Paris Saint-Germain player. However, the allegation remains a matter for the criminal court to determine at trial.

The trial will therefore give the court an opportunity to examine the evidence and hear arguments from both sides before a final determination is made.