15-9-2023 (MADRID) Former Spain’s football chief, Luis Rubiales, is set to appear in court on Friday (Sep 15) to face sexual assault charges related to an incident involving women’s World Cup player Jenni Hermoso. Rubiales, who resigned from his position just five days ago, will appear before Judge Francisco de Jorge at Madrid’s Audiencia Nacional court. The closed-door hearing will see Rubiales questioned as a defendant in relation to allegations of “sexual assault.” Jenni Hermoso, the alleged victim, will testify at a later date.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred a month ago when Rubiales forcibly kissed Hermoso in front of the media following Spain’s victory over England in the final on Aug 20. Rubiales, who was the head of Spain’s RFEF football federation at the time, has maintained that the kiss was consensual, while Hermoso has expressed that it made her feel like the “victim of an assault.”
The public prosecutors’ office filed a complaint against Rubiales last week, accusing him of “sexual assault” and “coercion.” The inclusion of coercion in the charges was based on Hermoso’s statement, where she mentioned ongoing pressure from Rubiales and his professional entourage to justify and condone his actions.
In Spain, a non-consensual kiss can be classified as sexual assault under recent revisions to the penal code, which encompass various forms of sexual violence. If convicted, Rubiales could face a fine or up to four years in prison, according to sources from the public prosecutors’ office.
Despite the global controversy surrounding the incident, Rubiales initially refused to resign over the kiss and was subsequently suspended by FIFA on Aug 26. However, he resigned on Sunday but continued to maintain that the kiss was consensual during a TV interview with Piers Morgan, emphasizing that it was a “spontaneous act” driven by the moment’s emotion and was “100 percent non-sexual.”
As the court hearing unfolds, newly appointed coach Montse Tome, the first woman to lead the team, will announce her squad for upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland on Sep 22 and Sep 26. Tome’s immediate challenge will be to persuade the 23 world champions to continue representing the national team, as many players had previously expressed their reluctance to do so without significant changes within the federation’s leadership.
While the players have not yet stated their intentions following Rubiales’ resignation, the situation has evolved since the removal of their controversial coach Jorge Vilda and the appointment of Tome, accompanied by promises of further internal reforms.
Rafael del Amo, head of the RFEF’s women’s football committee, expressed optimism about the situation, stating, “We have had discussions… I don’t think there will be any problem. I think things will move forward.”
