Luis Rubiales: Explosive Revelations Expected as Former Spanish FA President Faces Sexual Assault Accusations by Jenni Hermoso
Luis Rubiales, former Spanish FA president, faces legal scrutiny as he prepares to appear before a judge on Friday A sexual assault complaint and a potential crime of coercion have been filed against him following his resignation after controversy surrounding his interaction with Jenni Hermoso at the Women's World Cup final
Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association, is scheduled to appear before a judge on Friday following a complaint of sexual assault. The complaint stems from an incident in which he kissed Jenni Hermoso on the winners' podium after Spain's World Cup final win against England last month in Sydney.
Rubiales, aged 46, has insisted that the kiss was reciprocal and with mutual consent. Despite initially resisting calls for his resignation as president of the Spanish FA, Rubiales, who was already suspended by FIFA, ultimately decided to step down on September 10.
However, last week, prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil lodged a complaint with the High Court against Rubiales. This move came after Hermoso disclosed to prosecutors that Rubiales forcefully kissed her on the mouth, disregarding her lack of consent and gripping her head with both hands.
After Hermoso disclosed that she and her relatives were subjected to pressure from Rubiales and his group to state that she "endorsed and consented to what occurred," the prosecutor introduced the charge of coercion as a potential crime. The determination of whether the case proceeds to trial rests with Judge Francisco de Jorge. In the event of a guilty verdict, Rubiales may be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from one to four years.
Jorge has requested multiple media outlets, including the state broadcaster TVE, to provide him with footage of the incident and subsequent videos. These videos include one showing the players celebrating on a bus with Rubiales, where they seemingly make light-hearted references to the kiss. This investigation is expected to last several months. The hearing on Friday will be held in private.
Following the Rubiales incident, Spain's players initiated a strike, declaring that they would not resume until there was a change in the Spanish FA hierarchy.
After the dismissal of head coach Jorge Vilda, who had faced complaints prior to the beginning of the World Cup, the players informed that they decided to end their strike on Thursday, upon hearing of Rubiales' resignation.
Wiegman: Time to move on, players should be listened to
England manager Sarina Wiegman has stated that it is imperative to leave behind the Rubiales incident and instead acknowledge the victorious Spanish players for securing the World Cup title. Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of heeding the voices of the players as a valuable lesson derived from this incident.Let's shift our focus to celebrating football and especially recognizing the Spanish players for their victorious World Cup win. Surprisingly, this achievement hasn't received the attention it deserves. Moving forward, I will leave the ongoing developments to the dedicated individuals handling the matter.
Players must be heard and progress must be made. The women's game has undoubtedly seen significant improvements, yet there remains a considerable journey ahead.
It is not limited to Spain alone; this issue prevails worldwide. Numerous players and exceptional athletes face numerous obstacles, thus necessitating collective efforts and solidarity in order to create a better world for these individuals.
