PSG defender Achraf Hakimi, set to face trial for alleged rape, is included in the squad for a crucial Champions League match against Monaco

PARIS Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has been named in his team’s squad for a crucial Champions League play-off match. This comes a day after it was announced the 27-year-old will stand trial charged with rape, a charge he denies.

On Tuesday, Hakimi’s lawyer and a French prosecutor confirmed the trial order. The Moroccan international right-back is accused of raping a woman in the Val-de-Marne region southeast of Paris in February 2023.

Hakimi took to social media to contest the accusation. “Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial, even though I contest it and everything proves that it is false,” he wrote.

“I await this trial calmly, which will allow the truth to come out publicly,” he added.

His lawyer, Fanny Colin, questioned the plaintiff’s cooperation with the investigation. Colin stated the accusation rests “solely on the word of a woman who obstructed all investigations, refused all medical examinations and DNA tests, refused to allow her mobile phone to be examined, and refused to give the name of a key witness.”

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said her client was relieved the case was proceeding to court. Pardo praised the judiciary for its “exemplary” handling of the case.

Hakimi participated in PSG’s pre-match training session on Tuesday. He is a regular starter for the reigning European champions and last year’s African Footballer of the Year.

PSG coach Luis Enrique addressed the matter at a press conference. “This matter is in the hands of the authorities,” he said when asked about Hakimi’s impending trial.

Hakimi scored the equaliser in the first leg against Monaco last week. PSG came from two goals down to win that match 3-2 ahead of Wednesday’s decisive return fixture.

 The Sun Malaysia