In Summary
- Rubiales kissed Hermoso after World Cup final
- The judge said the kiss was not consensual
- Spanish law dictates that a non-consensual kiss can be considered sexual assault
- The judge also proposed trying three senior officials within Spanish soccer:
A judge has proposed a trial for disgraced former RFEF president Luis Rubiales deeming his kiss on Spain star Hermoso ‘’not consensual’’
Judge Francisco de Jorge, from Spain’s Audiencia Nacional top court, said that the kiss “was not consensual and was a unilateral and unexpected move” by Rubiales.
He added: “The erotic or non-erotic purpose or the state of euphoria and agitation experienced as a result of the extraordinary sporting triumph are elements whose legal consequences and [overall] consequences will have to be assessed in the oral trial before the body responsible for the prosecution. It affects the sphere of intimacy reserved for sexual relations, in particular in the context of two adults”.
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Other Spanish Officials to be Tried
Former Spain women’s coach Jorge Vilda men’s team director Albert Luque and RFEF marketing boss Ruben Rivera were also proposed to be put on trial for allegedly exerting pressure on Hermoso.
The Judge stated that the trio were acting on behalf of Rubiales “to bend the will of Jennifer Hermoso Fuentes and get her to agree to record a video in which she said that the kiss had been consensual”.
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The World Cup Kiss
The act took place following La Roja’s victory over England in the World Cup final on August 20, 2023, which saw Rubiales hold Hermoso’s head in both hands and forcibly kiss her on the lips.
The 46-year-old was consequently forced to resign as RFEF president and was handed a three -year ban from FIFA Now, Rubiales could face criminal charges, following a Spanish judge’s ruling on Thursday
Spanish law dictates that a non-consensual kiss can be considered sexual assault, which can incur a sentence of up to four years in prison. There is no set date on when and where Rubiales’ trial will take place.
