Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has been jeered by fans at the World Cup after a French appeals court confirmed he will stand trial for rape. The decision was made just hours before Morocco faced Scotland in their Group C match.
Hakimi, a defender for Paris Saint-Germain, had appealed a previous decision by an investigative judge to allow the rape case to proceed. The Versailles appeals court's decision was released on the eve of Morocco's match against Scotland, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the African side.
Hakimi denies any wrongdoing and claims he has become an 'easy target' due to his celebrity status. In a message posted on X, he wrote: 'Justice looked me in the eye and told me: 'If you were not famous, there would never have been a case,'.'
The trial is expected to take place in France, although a date has yet to be announced. Hakimi's lawyer, Fanny Colin, has claimed that her client's defence has uncovered exculpatory elements during the investigation and judicial inquiry.
The case has sparked controversy in the football world, with some calling for Hakimi to be stripped of his captaincy. However, Morocco's team has rallied around their captain, with many players expressing their support for him.