A Spanish judge will go on trial for “forcibly” kissing former soccer manager Luis Rubiales while awarding medals to players during last year’s Women’s World Cup final victory over England. suggested that it should.
In today’s judgment after his preliminary investigation, Judge Francisco de Jorge SpainThe Supreme Criminal Court of Audiencia Nacional concluded that the kiss by Rubiales, 46, was “not consensual, but was a unilateral and unexpected act”.
The judge also accused former women’s coach Jorge Vilda and men’s team director Alberto of pressuring Hermoso, 33, to then “publicly announce that the kiss was consensual.”・It was also proposed that Luque and RFEF marketing director Ruben Rivera be taken to court.
Rubiales was initially banned by FIFA from all “football-related activities” for 90 days, but this was extended to three years after a disciplinary committee found he had violated disciplinary rules.
But he is now facing charges of sexual assault and coercion over an incident on August 20 last year. He held Mr. Hermoso’s head in his hands and forcibly kissed him on the lips.
Rubiales described the act as “consensual poking,” but Hermoso insisted that was not the case.
epa10861533 Former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales arrives at the National Tribunal in Madrid, Spain, on September 15, 2023.
Luis Rubiales (right), president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, kisses Jennifer Hermoso (left) of Spain during the medal ceremony of the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals on August 20, 2023.
“The question of whether the purpose was erotic and the excitement arising from an extraordinary sporting victory are factors that need to be considered by the court,” De Jorge said in his ruling. Stated.
But he also said kissing on the lips “impacts on the scope of intimacy that is limited to sexual relations, especially when two adults are involved.”
With Rubiales’ consent, Mr. de Jorge said that Mr. Wilda, Mr. Luque, and Mr. Rivera had “cooperated” to “persuade Jennifer Hermoso to consent to filming a video showing that the kiss was consensual.” He added that he had found evidence of this.
Such conduct, despite the fact that it may appear to be a minor crime in itself, “may constitute a criminal offense related to the principal crime” attributed to Rubiales.
The judge looked into the possible involvement of all three men.
The kiss sparked widespread outrage and resulted in a suspension from world football governing body FIFA.
Under Spanish law, kissing without consent can be considered sexual assault, a criminal category that lumps together all types of sexual violence.
Penalties for such a kiss range from a fine to four years in prison.
Hermoso filed a lawsuit against Rubiales in September and testified before a judge earlier this month, appearing in Rubiales’ defense both on the flight home from Australia and on a subsequent team holiday to Ibiza in the Balearic Islands. He testified that he was under pressure.
In her testimony, she said she “faced constant harassment by those under investigation, which disrupted her normal life and caused her anxiety and distress.”
A number of other witnesses testified before the judge about the pressure Hermoso faced, including two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Puteras and two other Spanish team-mates. It is.
A number of Spanish players have signed a statement refusing to play for the national team until Rubiales is fired.
In a statement, the players said: “These changes do not go far enough to ensure our players feel safe, women are respected, women’s football is supported and they can reach their full potential.” Stated.
A total of 39 players, including 21 of the 23 members of the World Cup winning team, subsequently signed a letter within the Spanish Football Association calling for further changes.
Ultimately, on September 10 last year, Rubiales was provisionally suspended pending an investigation by FIFA and resigned from his positions as president of the Spanish federation and vice president of UEFA.
Rubiales was also prohibited from having contact with Hermoso or being within 200 meters of her.
Spain national team player Jennifer Hermoso leaves the audience after attending the Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid on January 2, 2024.
Hermoso and Rubiales pictured in Sydney after Spain’s win over England last August
Rocio Gálvez, who won the Women’s World Cup, joins Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso in receiving congratulations from Luis Rubiales, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (Republican).
A week later, it was reported that Mr Rubiales was selling his £1.2 million home in Madrid “amid mounting legal fees” in connection with the case.
The two-bedroom property has a swimming pool and underfloor heating, and is located close to Madrid’s city centre.
Rubiales was subsequently banned from all football-related activities for three years.
A FIFA statement confirming the decision last October said: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has confirmed that Luis Rubiales, former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), He was suspended from all football-related activities domestically and internationally for three years.” He acted in violation of Article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. ”