Luis Rubiales resigns as president of the Spanish Football Federation following incident
A Spanish judge has recommended that former soccer federation president Luis Rubiales be put on trial over the kissing incident involving captain Jenni Hermoso during the Women’s World Cup.
Mr Rubiales grabbed Mr Hermoso’s head and kissed him during a presentation after Spain’s victory in Australia.
She said the kiss was “not consensual,” but Rubiales denied this statement.
The judge decided there was enough evidence to proceed to trial in the matter.
During a hearing at Madrid’s Audencia Nacional (High Court), a judge described the kiss as a “non-consensual, unilateral and surprising undertaking”.
Prosecutors had previously charged Rubiales with sexual assault and coercion.
Penalties for such a kiss range from a fine to four years in prison.
The case involves several senior figures in Spanish soccer, including Hermoso’s former coach, former head of marketing and the men’s team’s sporting director.
Jorge Bilda, Ruben Rivera and Alberto Luque are accused of pressuring Hermoso to publicly say the kiss was consensual.
A judge in Madrid said the trio must also stand trial.
Lawyers involved in the case currently have 10 days to file a formal request for review with the court.
According to Spanish media, she said the kiss was “unexpected and in no way consensual.”
image source, Getty Images
Jenni Hermoso says she received ‘threats’ amid controversy
A statement by Hermoso released immediately after the final indicated that the kiss was consensual. However, she later complained that she was pressured by Spanish Football Federation officials to include her name in her statement.
The kiss took place at a medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20 last year, following Spain’s victory over England.
Rubiales, who has always maintained the kiss was a “consensual peck”, was forced to resign as president of the Spanish Football Federation following the incident.