The Spanish Public Prosecution Service has charged the president of the Spanish Football Federation for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the mouth after the World Cup final in Sydney. Luis Rubiales is accused of sexual assault.
The indictment comes two days after the player asked the Public Prosecution Service to prosecute Rubiales. She also stated that she and her family were pressured by Rubiales and his associates to say that Rubiales had kissed and pressed her against her consent. The Public Prosecution Service is therefore also charging Rubiales with coercion.
Without Hermoso’s report, the Public Prosecution Service could not start a criminal investigation against Rubiales.
Outrage
Hermoso is the captain of the Spanish football team that won the world championship in Australia last month. After she received her medal, Rubiales grabbed her head and kissed her on the lips.
When there was outrage about this, the Spanish Football Association said that it had approved this. That turned out not to be true.
A Spanish Supreme Court prosecutor says Rubiales faces a fine or prison sentence of 1 to 4 years. The women and men of the national teams, as well as the Spanish government, are demanding that he resign. The Football Association has suspended him.
- Football star Hermoso is suing Rubiales for sexual assault after a much-discussed kiss
- Spanish footballers speak out against Rubiales: ‘Unacceptable behavior’
- Spanish women stand up after kissing federation president: ‘It’s over’
