Hakimi's Decision Shakes Morocco's Camp Before the Scotland Match

Today, Friday, the attention of Moroccan and French audiences is directed towards the Court of Appeal in Versailles, which is preparing to issue its awaited decision in the sexual assault case involving Moroccan national team star Achraf Hakimi, just a few hours before the crucial match against Scotland in the 2026 World Cup.

This development comes at a highly sensitive time, as the Moroccan national team is set to play its second match in the world championship, while the 27-year-old player awaits a decision that could have a significant impact on his legal and athletic future.

French reports indicate that the court will rule on the appeal submitted by Hakimi's defense against the decision to refer him to criminal trial, more than three years after the investigations into the case were opened.

The anticipated decision does not pertain to the final conviction or acquittal of the player, but rather will determine the next judicial course of the case. The court may either uphold the decision to refer the case to trial, decide to close the file and end the proceedings, or reclassify the legal facts into a different charge.

While the coach and players focus on preparing for the match against Scotland, Hakimi's name remains the center of attention in global media, especially since he is considered one of the standout stars of the Moroccan national team and its leader on the field.

Observers believe that the decision being issued just hours before the match may impose additional pressure on the player, despite there being no direct impact on his sports participation so far.

While the Moroccan sports community awaits the court's decision, the focus within the Moroccan camp remains on achieving a positive result against Scotland, in a match that could play a decisive role in the race to qualify for the next round of the 2026 World Cup.