Hakimi is innocent until proven guilty… and the French press is guilty until it proves its professionalism
Express TV: Mostafa Filali
It is no longer a secret that what some French newspapers are doing against Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi does not fall under “media coverage” and bears no relation to professional ethics. It is, quite clearly, a malicious and orchestrated act, part of a systematic smear and targeting campaign disguised as justice while spewing venom in the name of “journalistic scoop.”
The reopening of a case dating back to February 2023, now pulled into the limelight in the absence of any new judicial developments, can only be interpreted as a carefully calculated blow aimed at disrupting the path of a player who is merely steps away from winning the Ballon d’Or. The French media remained silent for many months, waiting for the right moment: when Hakimi’s star rose in Arab, African, and international spheres, to then flaunt this old card and turn it into a trial by media, after failing to bring him down on the pitch.
The story’s chapters trace back to a Friday evening when a 24-year-old French girl visited the Moroccan player at his home after over a month of correspondence via Instagram. She arrived at the location in an Uber vehicle booked by the player himself. The account she provided to the police after leaving the scene included allegations of harassment and rape. However, she did not file an immediate official complaint, settling for a “verbal” statement at a police station.
Despite the absence of a clear complaint and amidst an intense media campaign, the judiciary decided to open a preliminary investigation, leading to the player being placed under judicial supervision on March 3, 2023, without arrest, indicating clearly that there was insufficient evidence for detention or precautionary measures.
Throughout the investigation sessions, Hakimi denied all allegations, describing the episode as “a blatant attempt at extortion.” In his first direct confrontation with the complainant on December 8, 2023, the player reaffirmed his innocence, denying any coercive act or rape.
What is particularly disgusting is that the French media—maliciously—did not report these details, nor did it mention the discrepancies in the complainant’s statements, her delay in filing a complaint, Hakimi’s denial, or the legal defense’s testimony, which confirmed that he was the one who turned to the authorities in response to an extortion attempt.
Is there any “honest press” that only relays one side of the story? Is there professionalism in marketing accusations without respecting the confidentiality of the case? Do French journalists not realize that what they are doing today is an unjust condemnation of a man who has not been subject to any judicial sentence? Or is media judgment prioritized over justice when the person in question is an Arab player named Hakimi?
This is not the first time a Maghreb player has been attacked in France under the pretense of “investigation.” However, the case of Hakimi starkly reveals a systematic desire to bring him down, not because he erred, but because he succeeded more than he should have. He clearly stated in one of his interviews: “When you succeed, you become an easy target… They wanted to extort me, and that’s why we went to court, and everything is going in the right direction.” Where is the press regarding these statements? Why aren’t they reported while old narratives with baseless accusations are recycled?
What we see today is nothing but a vile attempt to undermine a Moroccan player through soft tools. It is a psychological, marketing, and ethical battle aimed at distancing him from the Ballon d’Or stage, under the pretext of “judicial suspicion.” Yet the world is watching and following. What the judiciary has yet to say, will not be conveyed by paid pens that have become accustomed to cheering for the white and questioning everything that comes from the south.
If you have evidence, take it to court. However, marketing accusations, regurgitating cases, and attacking a man at the peak of his prowess is not journalism but a complete professional betrayal.
