Paris St Germain and Morroco right back Achraf Hakimi is facing a criminal investigation in France after an allegation of rape was made against him, an official from the Nanterre prosecution office said on Friday.

Hakimi, a Morocco international, firmly denied the allegation, according to his lawyer. PSG did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

The Nanterre prosecution office said Hakimi has been placed under police monitoring and was banned from contact with the alleged victim.

French newspaper Le Parisien, which first reported the investigation, said it was opened after a woman aged 24 told police last Sunday that she had been raped.

The news comes at a crucial moment for PSG, five days ahead of their Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayern Munich in which Hakimi is expected to play, having recovered from a muscle injury.

“The aim with our medical staff is for him to be available for the match against Bayern,” PSG coach Christophe Galtier told a news conference on Friday. He declined to comment on the investigation.

His lawyer Fanny Colin told the Le Parisien newspaper that “the accusations are false” and spoke of a “blackmail attempt.”

After the accusation came to light, PSG initially backed the defender in a statement, saying he “firmly denied the accusations and trusts justice.”

“PSG is an institution that promotes respect on and off the pitch,” the French club added. On Friday, Hakimi joined the team training and is expected to play on Saturday against Nantes.