Luis Rubiales: what to expect as court case begins over Jenni Hermoso kiss
Last updated on: 15 September,2023 11:46 pm
Luis Rubiales: what to expect as court case begins over Jenni Hermoso kiss
MADRID (Reuters) - Former Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales, who caused a furore when he grabbed player Jenni Hermoso's head and kissed her on the lips following Spain's victory at the Women's World Cup on Aug. 20, faces at least three legal and administrative challenges.
Hermoso says that she did not want to be kissed and that she felt "vulnerable and victim of an aggression".
After weeks of resisting calls to step down as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rubiales finally quit on Sept. 10.
He maintains the Hermoso kiss was "spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual".
SPANISH CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
Rubiales appeared before a High Court judge on Friday over a complaint of sexual assault and coercion stemming from the allegedly unsolicited kiss.
Prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil filed the complaint after Hermoso said she and her relatives were put under pressure by Rubiales and his entourage to say that she "justified and approved what happened".
Judge Francisco de Jorge, who on Friday imposed a restraining order to prevent Rubiales from approaching Hermoso, will hear and examine evidence before deciding whether to bring formal charges and advance the case to trial.
Sexual assault carries a prison term of between one and four years.
WHAT IS FIFA DOING?
Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for three months from all football-related activities by world soccer governing body FIFA since Aug. 26.