Spanish judge has suggested that the former president of the football federation, Luis Rubiales, be brought to trial in connection with the women’s World Cup kiss incident involving captain Jenni Hermoso.
The incident occurred during the presentation after Spain’s victory in Australia, where Mr. Rubiales grabbed Ms. Hermoso’s head and kissed her. While Ms. Hermoso stated that the kiss was “not consensual,”
Mr. Rubiales has denied this claim. The judge has determined that there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
During a hearing in Madrid, the judge described the kiss as “not consensual and… a unilateral and surprising initiative,” according to a statement from the court cited by the Reuters news agency.
Following the incident, Luis Rubiales resigned from his position as the president of Spain’s football federation. Mr. Rubiales had previously been charged by prosecutors with sexual assault and coercion in connection with the incident, and the potential penalties for such actions range from fines to four years of imprisonment.
The case has implicated several Spanish football executives, including Jenni Hermoso’s former coach, a former marketing manager, and the sports director of the men’s team. Jorge Vilda, Rubén Rivera, and Albert Luque are accused of allegedly pressuring Ms. Hermoso to publicly declare that the kiss had been consensual.
The judge in Madrid has determined that the trio should also face trial.
Legal representatives involved in the proceedings now have a 10-day window to formally request a trial before a court. Jenni Hermoso, Spain’s leading goal scorer, provided testimony before the court investigating her allegation, a process that lasted for more than two and a half hours in January.
According to Spanish media, she said the kiss was “unexpected and at no time consensual.”.
Jenni Hermoso said she “received threats” amid the controversy.
A statement issued shortly after the final that was attributed to Ms Hermoso indicated the kiss had been consensual. But she later complained of being pressured by officials of the Spanish football federation to add her name to the statement.
The kiss took place during the medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20 last year, following Spain’s win over England.
Mr Rubiales has always maintained the kiss was a “consensual peck,” but in the wake of the incident, he was forced to resign as president of the Spanish football federation.
It set off a wave of global anger at sexism at the highest levels of women’s sport.