In this file photo, Moroccan footballer Achraf Hakimi reacts during Qatar’s World Cup third place match against Croatia, at the Khalifa International Stadium, in Doha, Qatar, December 17, 2022. (AP Photo /Hassan Ammar, file)

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi is indicted on preliminary charges for an alleged rape, French prosecutors announced on Friday.

Hakimi was questioned on Thursday by investigators investigating the rape allegations, prosecutors said in Nanterre, just outside Paris. Later, an investigating judge charged him and placed him under judicial supervision.

The defender faces preliminary charges of rape. In French law, this means that there are sufficient grounds to suspect that a crime has been committed, but it gives magistrates more time to investigate before deciding whether the case will go to trial or not.

The Moroccan defender is prohibited from contacting the alleged victim, a 24-year-old woman who said she was raped by Hakimi on Saturday at the ace’s home in the Paris suburbs. Hakimi can leave French territory, added the prosecution.

Madrid-born Hakimi helped his country make history last year at the World Cup in Qatar by becoming the first African country to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. On Friday, we saw him training with PSG.

The prosecution opened its preliminary investigation on Monday.

The club has not commented and Hakimi has not publicly responded to the accusation. The footballer’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

Hakimi appeared on stage at FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards ceremony in Paris on Monday. He was recognized as part of the all-star men’s team voted by his peers and was greeted with short, loud applause when he was introduced.

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