A Spanish judge on Thursday recommended disgraced former Spanish soccer coach Luis Rubiales go on trial for forcing a kiss on Women’s World Cup star Jenni Hermoso.
In a preliminary ruling, Judge Francisco de Jorge of Spain’s Audiencia Nacional Supreme Criminal Court ruled that the kiss by Rubiales, who is charged with sexual assault and coercion, was “not consensual. It was a unilateral and unexpected act.”
He also accused former women’s coach Jorge Virda and men’s team director Alberto Luque of pressuring Hermoso, 33, to then “publicly announce that the kiss was consensual.” It also proposed that three people be taken to court: Mr.
All three are also being investigated by a judge.
The incident, which was broadcast live on camera after Spain defeated England to win the Women’s World Cup final in Australia on August 20, showed Rubiales holding Hermoso’s head with both hands and touching her lips. I forcibly kissed her.
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He described the act as “consensual contempt,” but Hermoso insisted that was not the case.
“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. Ta.
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.”
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He also said that with Rubiales’ consent, Mr. Wilda, Mr. Luque, and Mr. Rivera “worked together to persuade Jennifer Hermoso to agree to make a video showing that the kiss was consensual.” He said he had found evidence that he had made an effort.
Such conduct “may constitute a criminal offense in connection with the principal offense” attributed to Rubiales, regardless of the fact that it may appear to be a misdemeanor in and of itself.
The kiss sparked widespread outrage and resulted in a suspension from world football governing body FIFA.
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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.
Mr Hermoso launched the case against Mr Rubiales, 46, in September and appeared before a judge earlier this month, saying Mr Rubiales was killed both on a flight home from Australia and later on a team holiday to Ibiza in the Balearic Islands. He testified that he was pressured to defend him.
In her testimony, she said she “faces constant harassment from the subjects of the investigation, which disrupts her normal life and causes 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.