The former president of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales, is set to face trial for sexual assault following an incident where he kissed Women’s World Cup player Jenni Hermoso without her consent.
The incident occurred during the trophy presentation after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England at last year’s World Cup and quickly became a global controversy.
Rubiales, who subsequently resigned, insists he did nothing wrong, claiming the kiss was mutual and accusing his critics of “social assassination.”
However, a judge at the Spanish High Court has now charged him with sexual assault and one count of coercion.
The episode cast a shadow over Spain’s women’s team celebrating their first World Cup win on August 20, 2023. During the celebration, Rubiales was seen grabbing Hermoso’s head and kissing her on the lips on live television, sparking a significant backlash and a national discussion about sexism in Spain.
Hermoso, backed by her teammates, stated that the kiss was both unwanted and belittling.
Rubiales faces a potential one-year prison sentence for sexual assault. Additionally, he, along with former coach Jorge Vilda, current sporting director Albert Luque, and marketing head Ruben Rivera, are charged with coercion for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to declare the kiss consensual. They all deny the accusations and could face up to 18 months in jail if convicted.
The trial will take place at the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid, though a date has not been set.
The court has imposed a bail of €65,000 (£55,900) on Rubiales for the sexual assault charge, payable within 24 hours to cover potential civil liabilities. An additional €65,000 in bail is required jointly from Rubiales, Vilda, Luque, and Rivera for the coercion charges.