Luis Rubiales, who unilaterally kissed Spanish striker Jennifer Hermoso, is not the only one who will face justice.
Former President of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Luis Rubiales is facing trial for the kissing scandal after last summer’s women’s World Cup final. The Spanish judge who investigated the case Francisco de Jorge recommended on Thursday that the case go to trial.
Rubiales caused a stir after the final match of the World Cup in Australia in the summer when he kissed the Spanish striker Jennifer Hermosoa mouth after the country won the championship. Judge de Jorge ruled that the kiss was not consensual and that Rubiales’ move was “unilateral and unexpected.”
De Jorge also presented that the head coach of the Spanish women’s World Cup team Jorge Vildateam manager of the Spanish men’s national team Albert Luque and Marketing Director of RFEF Ruben Rivera are brought before the court in connection with the case. According to the judge, the trio pressured Hermoso to say publicly that Rubiales’ kiss was consensual.
Rubiales has claimed that the kiss had Hermoso’s permission, but the player felt that he had been sexually harassed.
Rubiales resigned as chairman in September. In October, the International Football Association Fifa banned him from the sport for three years.
According to Spanish law, a kiss without consent can be considered sexual violence. Penalties range from fines to up to four years in prison.