Former Spain’s football chief, Luis Rubiales, arrived at Madrid’s Audiencia Nacional court today to answer sexual assault charges related to an incident involving women’s World Cup player Jenni Hermoso. This development follows Rubiales’ resignation from his position just five days ago.
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The court appearance marks a significant step in a case that has garnered international attention. Rubiales was summoned to provide his testimony before Judge Francisco de Jorge, who is overseeing the investigation into the alleged assault. Jenni Hermoso will also be called to testify at a later date.
Rubiales, dressed in a navy suit and white shirt, entered the courthouse with his lawyer and did not speak to reporters. The hearing is closed to the public, and Rubiales will face questions as a defendant regarding the allegations of sexual assault. These allegations arose after an incident in which Rubiales forcibly kissed Hermoso following Spain’s victory over England in the World Cup final on August 20.
The charges against Rubiales include alleged sexual assault and coercion, with the latter charge stemming from Hermoso’s claim that he pressured her to speak out in his defense after the scandal emerged. While Rubiales has maintained that the kiss was consensual, Hermoso has stated otherwise, expressing that she felt like the “victim of an assault.”
Under recent reforms to the Spanish penal code, a non-consensual kiss can be categorized as sexual assault, encompassing various forms of sexual violence. Judge De Jorge is currently conducting a preliminary investigation into the allegations, and the subsequent findings will determine whether the case proceeds to trial.
If convicted of sexual assault, Rubiales could face penalties ranging from fines to up to four years in prison. The inclusion of the coercion charge in the complaint arises from Hermoso’s assertion that she and her associates faced continuous pressure from Rubiales and his professional entourage to justify and condone his actions.
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The controversy surrounding the incident largely overshadowed Spain’s World Cup victory celebrations and resulted in Rubiales’ suspension by FIFA on August 26. After weeks of refusing to step down, Rubiales resigned late last Sunday but continued to assert that the kiss was consensual during a television interview with Piers Morgan. He explained the act as a spontaneous and mutual expression of emotion, devoid of any sexual connotation.
Rubiales contended that the public reaction to the kiss was due to a misunderstanding of Latin culture and stressed that he would have acted similarly toward a male player.
This legal development coincides with Montse Tome’s appointment as the new coach of the Spanish women’s national team, making her the first woman to lead the team. Tome is set to announce her squad on Friday for upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland, scheduled for September 22 and 26.
Her immediate challenge will be to convince the 23 world champions to rejoin the team, as they and many others had previously stated their reluctance to play for the national team without significant changes in the federation’s leadership.
While the players have not officially communicated their intentions following Rubiales’ resignation, the situation may evolve given the RFEF’s recent dismissal of the controversial coach Jorge Vilda, the appointment of Tome as his successor, and the federation’s commitment to further internal reforms.
Rafael del Amo, head of the RFEF’s women’s football committee, expressed optimism about resolving the situation, stating that discussions had taken place and that he didn’t anticipate any problems moving forward.
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