In a significant development, a French appeals court has upheld the decision for Paris Saint-Germain and Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi to stand trial on rape charges, according to statements from lawyers to The Associated Press on Friday.

Hakimi, who is currently representing Morocco in the World Cup following his consecutive Champions League victories with PSG, had contested a February ruling from an investigative judge. This earlier decision, which aligned with recommendations from public prosecutors, indicated that Hakimi should indeed face trial.

The timing of the Versailles appeals court’s decision coincided with Morocco’s scheduled Group C clash against Scotland. The Moroccan team had previously secured a 1-1 draw in their opening match against Brazil.

Widely regarded as one of the premier right backs in the global football arena, Hakimi has maintained his innocence, denying any involvement in the alleged crime.

The allegations stem from an incident reported by a 24-year-old woman, who claims she was sexually assaulted by Hakimi at his residence in a suburb of Paris in March 2023.

Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the plaintiff, said that after more than three years of legal proceedings, “and after being defamed and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi’s defense,” the court’s decision “brings my client a sense of relief and hope.”

“Relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have her case heard at trial,” Pardo said in a statement to the AP. “Hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including within the world of men’s football.”

Hakimi claimed in a message posted on X on Friday that his case would have been dismissed if he had not been famous, and that he sometimes feels he has become “an easy target.”

“Justice looked me in the eye and told me: ‘If you were not famous, there would never have been a case,’” Hakimi wrote. “I chose to remain silent for years. I believed that staying dignified, being patient, and trusting the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.”

He added that the case has been detrimental not only to him, but also to his family, “and above all, to the truth.”

“I have been waiting for this trial since the first day. And I am now waiting for it impatiently,” he added. “Finally, I will be able to speak.”

A date for the trial has yet to be announced.

“The multitude of exculpatory elements uncovered during the investigation and judicial inquiry would, in any other case, have led to the dismissal of the proceedings,” Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, told the AP.

“Achraf Hakimi’s defense regrets that no consequences were drawn from the contradictions and false statements made by the complainant, her concealment of information from the judicial authorities, her obstruction of the search for the truth, and the psychological assessments noting both her ambivalence and her lack of clarity regarding the events she reported.”

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — A calculated strike and a bit of luck saw Mexico clinch a 1-0 victory over South Korea, propelling them as the first team to secure a spot in the knockout stage of the World Cup on Thursday.

This victory is a significant milestone for Mexico, especially after their disappointing exit at the group stage in 2022. Now, with two wins on their home turf, the team and their fans have every reason to celebrate.

The decisive moment of the match came in the 50th minute. A defensive misstep occurred when South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu collided with defender Lee Gi-hyuk, inadvertently dropping the ball in the penalty area. Luis Romo seized the opportunity, skillfully maneuvering the ball into an open net to score the game’s only goal.

South Korea came close to leveling the score in the 87th minute. In a tense moment, Mexico’s goalkeeper Raúl Rangel demonstrated remarkable skill, first halting a powerful header from Cho Gue-sung and then, with a swift extension of his right arm, denying the rebound effort from crossing the goal line.

With this win, Mexico now leads Group A with six points from two matches. South Korea trails with three points, while the Czech Republic and South Africa, who played to a 1-1 draw earlier in Atlanta, have yet to make significant headway.

The top two teams from each group move on to the knockout stage, along with the best eight third-place teams. A round of 32 is being played for the first time at the World Cup after the tournament was expanded to 48 teams.

Amid the deafening cheers from a packed stadium and the unfortunate fate of South Korea’s goalkeeper, Mexico emerged victorious from a thrilling World Cup match, securing their place at the top of Group A. Their distinctive green, white, and red flag now flies proudly over the group standings.

This victory also brings the tantalizing prospect of a showdown with England in the high-altitude setting of Mexico City during the round of 16.

Should this anticipated encounter prove as exhilarating as today’s match, spectators might find themselves breathless both from the excitement and the altitude.

The game, marked by its intense pace, was ultimately decided by a fateful mistake from Kim Seung-gyu, a moment likely to linger in his memory. A high cross in the 50th minute slipped through his fingers, landing at the feet of Luis Romero, who gratefully seized the opportunity. Despite Korea’s relentless efforts and a desperate final push, they couldn’t overcome Mexico’s determined defense.

Long live Mexico. There’s hope yet for Korea, who are still in the running. It would be unfortunate to see them exit after such a valiant effort. Notably, Mexico’s journey to victory was anything but smooth, marked by its own share of challenges and controversies.

Mexico became the first team to seal their spot in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup

There had been excavations in process on the hillside over looking the Guadalajara Stadium before Mexico’s second and they were hoping decisive match in the first stanza of Fifa’s marathon campaign.

They were searching for bodies who were among the 134,000 souls who have disappeared from the face of Mexico in the last 18 months.

As for their opponents there is television, newspaper and radio silence between the South Korean team and their country’s media. An angry stand-off because reporters were caught on a hot-mic mocking and insulting their superstar Son Heung-min.

World Cups are never just about the football.

Mexico City, where this tournament kicked off a week ago, is torn between demonstrations against the embattled government and colourful street parties on match night. Especially nights as captivating as this. Another blessing is that the homicide rate falls during World Cups as the passion for football temporarily surpasses the murderous power of the cartels.

Meanwhile the Koreans have been subjected also to espionage of a manner far beyond Southampton’s pathetic sending of a kid with a camera to spy on opponents at practice from behind a tree.

A military scale drone was brought down by the army as it began to encircle their training ground during a closed session on tactics.

Since the intervention was wrought by the Mexican forces there is no suggestion from the Koreans that the host nation were involved

Although they would be less than human if they were not quietly hoping that Son Hueng Min would be distracted by false accusation of draft dodging and snide remarks that at his age, 33, he now ‘runs like an old general.’

El Tri fans celebrate their 1-0 win over South Korea in Guadalajara on Thursday night 

Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (right) made a series of stunning saves to preserve the lead

Tottenham fans and Premier League observers will doubt that having watched him rifle in the goals right up until he left Spurs last autumn for Los Angeles FC. That move he explains: ‘I came to America to familiarise myself to the conditions and atmosphere in which this World Cup will be played.’

As it happened he did not look quite himself in the pipe-opener against the Czech Republic. Missing a couple of clear chances. Even so they won 2-0.

With Mexico also victorious on day one of Mundial 2026, the winners would top the group. By doing so they would set up a possible last 16 Round with England. Maybe, given how Kane and Mac played in Dallas the other night, could it be more strategic to come second?

But it is always risky to play the options rather than the match. So both opted to go for it. Gung-ho to put it in Korean parlance. If they did harbour thoughts of retribution then of course theirvfirst target was Son.

Lee Jae Sung replicated the stamp by Lionel Messi which went unpunished In this case it drew a yellow card. For this he would be whistled to deaf for the rest of a night which was developing into a high-speed thriller in front of another packed and voluble crowd.

Our Son-y Boy’s 15th minute response came with an exquisite chip over the keeper. Only for West Ham’s Edson Alvaarez to clear with an acrobatic overhead kick from beneath the crossbar. At the other end a minute later Julian Quinones steered a free header weakly at the Korean keeper. But it was our hosts who had to ride out a storm as the first half ended.

Luis Romo scored in the 50th minute after a defensive error goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu

Mexico came back with revised strategy. Defend and counter. In less than five minutes it gave them the lead. Albeit with a lot of help from Poor Kim Seung Gyu as he came for an awkward cross. But not tricky as to excuse him dropping the ball. A grateful Luis Romo rolled it into the empty net.

There thrills galore thereafter but no more goals.

To sharpen the pain for Korea’s keeper his opposite number was the hero not only of the hour but the last minute of normal time

Raul Rangle somehow upwardly parried a shot at point blank range. As it came down he punched it into the air again then grasped the ball amid a flurry of flying boots,

He held onto it as fell and clutched it to the grass inches short of the line.

How lives and careers can be made or broken at World Cups.

How nations can be moved by a game of football.

Jesus Gallardo celebrates with the fans in the stands after the final whistle is blown