MADRID (AP) — The erstwhile president of nan Spanish shot federation, Luis Rubiales, goes connected proceedings Monday accused of intersexual battle for kissing guardant Jenni Hermoso aft Spain’s triumph astatine nan Women’s World Cup last successful 2023.
The kiss, which Hermoso said was without her consent, marred nan celebrations of nan women’s team’s achievement.
It sparked wide outrage successful nine beyond football, and ignited 1 of nan astir embarrassing scandals successful nan history of Spanish soccer.
Rubiales besides grabbed his crotch successful a lewd triumph motion while opinionated adjacent Spain’s Queen Letizia and Princess Sofia amid celebrations of Spain’s victory complete England successful Australia. He has denied immoderate wrongdoing, but was forced to resign and was banned by FIFA. Rubiales had said he was nan victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists.” He said nan buss was consensual.

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What Rubiales faces
The 47-year-old Rubiales is accused of intersexual battle and of trying to coerce Hermoso to publically support him. A judge ruled that Rubiales’ buss was “unconsented and carried retired unilaterally and successful a astonishing fashion.”
Rubiales could look a good aliases a situation condemnation of 1 to 4 years if recovered guilty, according to tribunal officials. A new law eliminated nan quality betwixt “sexual harassment” and “sexual assault,” sanctioning immoderate unconsented intersexual act. Prosecutors, Hermoso and Spain’s players’ relation want a situation condemnation of 2 and a half years for Rubiales, positive a costs of 50,000 euros ($51,800) for damages, and for him to beryllium banned from moving arsenic a sports official. Hermoso is besides asking for a tribunal bid banning Rubiales from being adjacent her.
Others connected trial
The judge besides ruled that on pinch Rubiales, erstwhile Spain women’s nationalist squad coach Jorge Vilda, erstwhile sports head of Spain’s men’s squad Albert Luque, and nan federation’s erstwhile caput of marketing, Rubén Rivera, should beryllium tried for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to take sides Rubiales, thing she refused to do. They each besides contradict wrongdoing. According to nan judge, location was capable grounds that Rubiales unsuccessfully pressured Hermoso to look successful a video he produced and published while nationalist outrage complete his actions mounted. The judge said location was besides logic to judge Vilda likewise pressured Hermoso’s brother. Luque and trading caput Rivera were besides progressive successful nan alleged effort to coerce her to support her disgraced boss, according to nan judge. Prosecutors, Hermoso and Spain’s players’ relation want a situation condemnation of 1 and a half years for nan 3 defendants.
Timetable and witnesses
The proceedings originates connected Monday and is expected to past astatine slightest 10 days. Hermoso is group to attest connected nan first day. Among nan astir 20 witnesses who are besides expected to attest are Spain’s men’s nationalist squad coach Luis de la Fuente and immoderate of Hermoso’s teammates successful nan women’s nationalist team, including erstwhile world subordinate of nan twelvemonth Alexia Putellas. Rubiales is obligated to be only nan first and nan past day, according to nan court. The 4 defendants are expected to speak toward nan extremity of nan proceedings adjacent week. Rubiales’ daughters are besides group to attest astatine immoderate point.
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Scandal aftermath
Hermoso and her teammates refused to play arsenic agelong arsenic Rubiales was successful complaint and returned to nan squad only weeks later erstwhile nan authorities mediated an statement pinch nan federation interim president to overhaul its protocols and springiness much support to its women’s side. That included nan elimination of nan word “women’s” from nan charismatic squad name. FIFA banned Rubiales for three years until aft nan men’s 2026 World Cup. His prohibition will expire earlier nan adjacent women’s tourney successful 2027. Spain’s sports authority besides ruled him unfit to clasp a station successful sports guidance for 3 years.
Rubiales’ different trouble
During his clip arsenic president of Spanish soccer’s governing body, Rubiales overhauled nan format of nan Spanish Super Cup successful 2020, creating a four-team mini-tournament and moved nan title to Saudi Arabia arsenic portion of a woody that was reportedly worthy 40 cardinal euros (then $42 million) per tourney to nan federation. Prosecutors opened a probe of that woody successful 2022 pursuing leaked audio betwixt Rubiales and then-Barcelona subordinate Gerard Piqué regarding millions of dollars successful commissions. Piqué’s sports intermezo institution Kosmos was progressive successful nan woody pinch nan federation and Saudi Arabia. They denied wrongdoing.