Former president of the Spanish soccer federation, Luis Rubiales, along with three other defendants, are scheduled to appear before a judge on Tuesday to testify in a trial related to an incident involving a kiss at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final presentation ceremony. The defendants are accused of attempting to downplay the kiss between Rubiales and player Jenni Hermoso.
Rubiales faces allegations of sexual assault, while the other defendants - former women's national team coach Jorge Vilda, the federation's former sports director of the men’s national team, Albert Luque, and the former head of marketing, Ruben Rivera - are accused of coercion for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to support Rubiales' account of the kiss.
Hermoso has stated that she did not consent to the kiss, while Rubiales maintains that the interaction was consensual. Following the scandal, Rubiales resigned from his position and received a three-year ban from FIFA. He has claimed to be the target of a 'witch hunt' by what he referred to as 'false feminists.'
During her testimony, Hermoso expressed feeling disrespected by Rubiales following Spain's World Cup victory, stating that the kiss had marred what should have been a joyous occasion. The incident sparked widespread outrage in Spain, shining a light on issues of sexism within the realm of sports and beyond.
Prosecutors, Hermoso, and the Spain players’ association are seeking a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence for Rubiales, a 50,000 euro ($51,800) fine for damages, and a ban on his future involvement in sports administration. The other three defendants are facing potential one-and-a-half-year prison terms.
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