Luis Rubiales to go on trial over unsolicited World Cup kiss

Luis Rubiales will go on trial on Monday accused of sexual assault for kissing football player Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s victory at the Women’s World Cup final in 2023.

Hermoso said the kiss from the former president of the Spanish football federation was without her consent, while Rubiales insists that it was consensual.

Rubiales is also accused of trying to coerce Hermoso into publicly supporting him following the incident.

A judge ruled that Rubiales’ kiss was “unconsented and carried out unilaterally and in a surprising fashion”, and he could now face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty, according to court officials.

Prosecutors, Hermoso and Spain’s players’ association want a prison sentence of two and a half years for Rubiales, plus a payment of 50,000 euros (£41,800) for damages, and for him to be banned from working as a sports official.

Hermoso is also asking for a court order banning Rubiales from being near her.

The kiss marred the celebrations of the women’s team’s achievement and sparked widespread outrage well beyond the world of football.

Hermoso and her teammates refused to play as long as Rubiales was in charge and returned to the team only weeks later when the government mediated an agreement with the federation interim president to overhaul its protocols and give more support to its women’s side.

Rubiales has denied any wrongdoing, but was forced to resign and was banned by FIFA. Rubiales had said he was the victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists”.

The judge also ruled that former Spain women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda, former sports director of Spain’s men’s team Albert Luque, and the federation’s former head of marketing, Rubén Rivera, should be also be tried for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to defend Rubiales, something she refused to do.

They all also deny wrongdoing.

The trial begins on Monday and is expected to last at least 10 days, with Hermoso set to testify on the first day.