Hakeem under a barrage of boos during the showdown with Scotland

Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, was subjected to continuous taunts from Scotland fans during their 2026 World Cup second round match against Scotland at the Foxborough Stadium, hours after a French court announced that he would stand trial on rape charges.

The Court of Appeal of Versailles stated in a press release published on Friday that “the investigation carried out during the preliminary hearing concluded that there is sufficient evidence against Mr. Ashraf Hakimi to justify his indictment at the Criminal Court of the Department of Verde-des-Seines.”

Hakimi attended the meeting despite the legal and media pressure he faced. According to French newspaper L’Equipe, the booing started shortly after the line-ups of both teams were announced and continued throughout the match when he touched the ball, in a scene that reflected the impact the incident had on the atmosphere surrounding the player.

The Morocco coach’s decision to include Hakim in the starting line-up sparked widespread controversy, given the latest legal developments the player received just hours before kick-off, putting him under double psychological pressure between sporting commitments and legal challenges.

The case is a serious challenge for the 28-year-old, who is considered one of Morocco’s most popular stars and a mainstay in the defense, as he now faces a legal battle that could affect his professional and personal future.

It is noteworthy that Hakimi denies the charges brought against him, and his legal team filed a formal complaint against the decision to send him to trial, pending the final decision of the case by the French judiciary.