Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, charged with rape in France, was called into the Morocco squad Monday for friendly games against Brazil and Peru.
One of the stars of Morocco’s iconic charge to the semi-finals of the World Cup last year in Qatar, Hakimi was charged earlier this month with allegedly raping a 24-year-old woman.
He allegedly paid for his accuser to travel to his home on February 25 in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt while his wife and children were away on holiday.
He denies the accusations.
“We are behind him and that’s the most important thing,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui said.
“There is the presumption of innocence until there is proof to the contrary, we and all Moroccans are backing him,” Regragui told a press conference in Rabat.
