A judge investigating charges surrounding the kiss between Luis Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso after this summer’s Women’s World Cup final has recommended that the case go to trial.
Judge Francisco de Jorge of the National Court of Justice (Audencia Nacional) also spoke with former Spanish women’s team coach Jorge Vilda, former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) marketing director Ruben Rivera, and RFEF men’s national team director and former Newcastle United player. He proposed a trial for striker Alberto Luque. .
The national court also asked Wilda’s successor, Montse Tomé, to determine whether Hermoso’s exclusion for two matches was related to his refusal to sign a joint statement with Rubiales regarding the incident at the World Cup. The judge ordered him to be called as a witness.
Rubiales grabbed Hermoso’s head and kissed him on the lips while accepting his winner’s medal after Spain’s victory over England in the World Cup final in Sydney, Australia on August 20.
In a statement released by the National Court on Thursday morning, Mr de Jorge said there was evidence the kiss was “not consensual”.
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“The investigation has shown that the kissing of Jennifer Hermoso mentioned in the facts of this order was a unilateral and surprising initiative of Luis Manuel Rubiales Bejar, the subject of the investigation.” “The existence of evidence has become clear,” he added.
Rubiales initially refused to resign as RFEF president over the incident, but eventually resigned after receiving interim sanctions from FIFA, although he has always maintained that Hermoso had agreed to the kiss. Hermoso testified that the kiss was not consensual and that an attempt was made to coerce her into saying the opposite.
De Jorge is investigating Rubiales, who was suspended from soccer-related activities for three years by FIFA in October, on two counts of sexual assault and extortion. Luque, Rivera and Wilda, who currently coaches the Moroccan women’s team, were investigated for coercion, which they deny.
Thursday’s State Court statement said Judge De Jorge had committed “concerted action” by Luque, Rivera and Wilda to “shatter the will of Jennifer Hermoso.” “We believe there are indications of the existence of the United States” and “we have come to an agreement with Rubiales.” The kiss was consensual and they agreed to be filmed on video. ”
The paper said Mr de Jorge assesses that there is “sufficient evidence” to proceed with the case to an “oral trial” and that the charges are “fully maintainable” and that “the law… “The impact on this will need to be assessed in an oral trial,” he added. “Public trial before the institution responsible for the prosecution.”
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(THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)