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Image: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
Luis Rubiales, the former chief of the Spanish football federation, is facing trial for misconduct at the Women’s World Cup 2023 final when he forcibly kissed a player on the lips at the trophy ceremony. The athlete, Jenni Hermosa, spoke up about the sexual assault and alleged coercion she faced. In a trial on February 3, she testified against Rubiales in the National Court in San Fernando de Henares near Madrid, "As a woman, I felt disrespected. It was a moment that stained one of the happiest days of my life," she expressed, according to BBC.
Rubiales believes the kiss was consensual, like a "peck between friends celebrating." Hermosa argued, "This shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting… A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so," she asserted. "For me, it is very important to say that at no point did I seek that act, let alone expect it."
Hermoso also detailed that the federation officials put pressure on her, family and friends after she spoke up about the kiss. She also faced insufferable media pressure after returning to Spain and received death threats, with “people waiting for me outside, people following me, people taking photos of me while I had breakfast with my mother".
The fear got so intense that Hermoso had to leave Madrid. “Until today it feels like my life has been on standby," Hermoso told the court. Spain's Equality Minister Ana Redondo reacted to the trial with a post on X, “Thank you again, Jenni, for your bravery. Thanks to you and your teammates we add another victory for feminism."
Gracias de nuevo, Jenni, por tu valentía. Gracias a ti y a tus compañeras sumamos una victoria más del feminismo. Hoy, más que nunca, estamos contigo. Ni un beso no consentido más, ni una agresión sexual más.
— Ana Redondo (@_anaredondo_) February 3, 2025
Rubiales, who calls the allegations a display of "fake feminism", is scheduled to take the stand on February 12 in the much-awaited trial. Prosecutors are seeking two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, one year for sexual assault for the forced kiss and 18 months for allegedly coercing Hermoso, 34, to downplay the incident.
Alongside Rubiales, the other accused include women’s national team ex-coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials, Ruben Rivera and Albert Luque. They also stand accused of trying to coerce Hermoso with prosecutors seeking 18 months’ jail against them. Notably, Rubiales was also under investigation for alleged corruption in his role as federation head.
World Cup 2023 Sexual Assault Case
In September 2023, FIFA banned Luis Rubiales, soccer federation president, from the sport for three years after he forcibly kissed Hermoso after her team's win. Rubiales is barred from working in soccer until after the men’s 2026 World Cup. His ban will expire before the next women’s tournament in 2027.
FIFA did not publish details of the verdict reached by its disciplinary committee judges, who had investigated charges relating to “basic rules of decent conduct” and “behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute.” After receiving legal charges over his actions, Luis Rubiales also resigned from his position.
A Spanish prosecutor also filed a lawsuit against Rubiales for coercion and sexually assaulting the football player. Jenni Hermosa also lodged a complaint to the National Court formally accusing Rubiales of sexually assaulting her. Rubiales stated that he does not think he will be able to return to his position.
In the open letter sent by the Rubiales to the REFF, he mentioned he would also be resigning from his position as Vice President of the European Football League governing body UEFA. He claimed in a TV interview that there are de facto powers that will prevent his return and there is no point in insisting on clinging and waiting.
Rubiales was a former player and head of Spain's main players' union and has been the President of the football federation since 2018. Apart from the World Cup misconduct, he is also under investigation for an alleged corruption case involving his reign at the federation. However, he has denied any wrongdoing.