A Spanish judge has indicated that Luis Rubiales, the former chief of Spanish soccer, might be tried over an alleged nonconsensual kiss at the Women’s World Cup.
Rubiales, the ex-president of the Spanish soccer federation, was handed a three-year ban from both national and international soccer activities in October. This action followed a violation of FIFA’s disciplinary code.
The issue arose following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on August 20, 2023, when Rubiales reportedly kissed Spanish player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips without her permission during the award ceremony.
Judge Francisco de Jorge believes there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial against Rubiales and three other ex-officials of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. These officials include former sporting director Albert Luque, Jorge Vilda, the ex-head coach of Spain’s women’s team, and Ruben Rivera, the former marketing manager.
The judge expressed concerns about the possibility of Luque, Vilda, and Rivera influencing Hermoso to declare the kiss was consensual.
Here’s Why Entrepreneurship Should Be Important To You
If convicted, Rubiales faces a potential prison sentence of one to four years. The Madrid Public Prosecutor and Jennifer Hermoso now have a 10-day period to formalize their accusations, after which the Spanish court will organize the trial. Hermoso’s team has expressed their intention to move forward with the charges and pursue a trial promptly.
