Moroccan footballer Achraf Hakimi is under investigation by the French justice system for accusations of rape, facing up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. However, these accusations don’t seem to have much effect on the PSG right back. Since his formal indictment in March 2023, he has gone on to win a Champions League title with PSG and was nominated for the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or.
Hakimi is just the latest in a concerning pattern of footballers accused of sexual violence and harassment. Even more concerning is the lack of accountability for abusers and justice for victims within the footballing industry.
An unnamed player in his 30s
Clubs and organizations have shielded players from accusations, supporting them on social media and allowing them playtime despite public backlash. For example, Englishman Thomas Partey was allowed to play for Arsenal while facing accusations of rape and sexual misconduct. The club continued to include Partey in starting lineups and post the player on social media, even as fans protested online and at matches.
After a match in which Partey scored, head coach Mikel Arteta said of the player, “For what he’s been through, and the injuries, for the effort he’s put in this week to be available for the team. I’m so happy for him, he deserves this.”
Only at the end of the season was Partey let go from the club. Arteta, when asked his thoughts on how Arsenal handled Partey’s situation, said that the club “100%” handled the situation correctly.
Partey was convicted of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault on July 4th after his initial indictment in February 2022. Despite his conviction, Partey will be allowed to travel with his new club Villarreal CF as normal.
A pattern of sexual misconduct?
One has to wonder–is this just a series of unfortunate events? Or does this reveal a more sinister pattern rooted in a system that undermines victims?
Unfortunately, evidence seems to support the latter. It’s not uncommon to find comments online that shrug blame off of accused abusers or even outright excuse them. It’s a frequent narrative that a victim coming forward is clout-chasing, after money, or just smearing a player’s name.
In 2023, a now-disproven story regarding aforementioned footballer Achraf Hakimi’s divorce went viral. According to the story, Hakimi’s ex-wife, Hiba Abouk, allegedly requested “more than half of the Moroccan footballer’s wealth and fortune,” but was thwarted when it was discovered that all of his wealth was held under his mother’s name. The story was later proven false, but not before fans began to slander Abouk, calling her a gold-digger and disloyal while applauding Hakimi for his ingenuity.
Often, there is more scrutiny and vitriol directed at an alleged victim than there is an alleged abuser. It is in part due to this hostile social environment that justice can be so difficult to achieve. It’s also crucial to note the extreme power imbalance between the accuser and the accused. Football stars are wealthy and famous, able to pay for the best legal assistance and idolized by fans.
How victims get justice
Seeking justice for cases of sexual violence can be complex on many levels. They are highly gendered crimes–most victims are women and girls, and most offenders are men. Victims are often subject to deep shame and humiliation around the crime, and accusations are often discarded. Secondly, sexual violence is typically done in private, where the only witnesses are the victim and the offender. Cases of sexual violence are the most under-reported and the least likely to result in a conviction.
In the case of European football, investigations and penalties differ from country to country. Especially for wealthy, influential footballers, penalties for being found guilty of sexual abuse can be light or even non-existent. Players are frequently allowed to continue with their careers without any significant consequence.
Major European organizations like the Premier League, Ligue 1, La Liga and UEFA explicitly condemn sexual violence. (FIFA, in response to complaints, began to create an independent entity to investigate instances of sexual abuse in 2021. However, little action has been taken by FIFA since, and as of now, this entity does not exist.) Research done by faculty at the Center for the Study and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence at the University of Delaware finds that policies against sexual misconduct in sports are often ineffective, largely due to a lack of accountability within a league or organization. Consequences can be brushed aside in the name of performance or revenue without regard for justice for a victim.
Response by fan groups
Supporter groups have played a significant role in pressuring organizations like the Premier League to stand against sexual violence. After a campaign by three groups (Level Up, The Three Hijabis, and End Violence Against Women and Girls Coalition), the Premier League implemented mandatory education on sexual consent for all players.
The Football Supporters’ Association officially supports a campaign for the adoption of a No Fault Stand Down policy by the Premier League, FA, and EFL. The No Fault Stand Down rule means that when a player is accused of a serious violent crime like sexual assault, the player is automatically “stood down” from playing until the proceedings have concluded. The standing down is not an admission of guilt or fault. Instead, it’s a precaution that allows for a smooth legal proceeding while also signaling support to women and victims of sexual violence. The motion was proposed at the FSA annual general meeting by several women’s supporter groups and approved by group vote.
Looking forward
These measures are steps in the right direction to address football’s problem with sexual violence, spearheaded by everyday fans. However, these measures are only implemented in the UK–leagues in other countries lag behind in terms of similar efforts against sexual violence.
This isn’t to say that sexual harassment or rape are the only gender-based issues in football–far from it. Harassment of female players in their workplace (like the recent incident that marred Spain’s World Cup victory), domestic violence, and unequal opportunities are all issues prevalent in the footballing world.
To end a culture of sexual violence, we must work to create an environment where committing such crimes is unequivocally unacceptable. Expanding education, dialogue, and accountability about sexual consent is crucial. Athletes are public figures, and the social, professional, and legal consequences they face for sexual misconduct reflect the state of our society overall.
