A prosecutor is seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for former Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales for his unsolicited kiss with player Jenni Hermoso.
A court document seen by Reuters on Wednesday showed that prosecutor Marta Durantez charged Rubiales with one count of sexual assault and one count of coercion for his alleged actions after the kiss, crimes that carry prison sentences of one year and 18 months, respectively.
The 46-year-old grabbed Jenni Hermoso and kissed her on the lips on August 20 last year during the awards ceremony after Spain’s victory at the Women’s World Cup in Sydney, making headlines worldwide and sparking a national debate in Spain on sexism.
Hermoso and his teammates said the kiss was unwanted and degrading, but Rubiales argued it was consensual and denied any wrongdoing.
‘Constant and repeated acts of pressure’
The prosecutor also accused the former coach of the women’s team, Jorge Vilda, the current sports director of the Spanish Federation (RFEF), Albert Luque, and the head of marketing of the RFEF, Rubén Rivera, of forcing Hermoso to say that the kiss was consensual. .
The prosecution says the three officials harassed the Spanish international by exerting “constant and repeated acts of pressure” directly on the player and through her friends and family. Each of them also faces 18 months behind bars.
All three denied any wrongdoing when they appeared in court.
Prosecutor Marta Durantez also said Luis Rubiales should pay 50,000 euros ($82,900) in damages to Jenni Hermoso, and the same amount would be paid jointly by Rubiales, Vilda, Luque and Rivera.
In addition, he requested a restraining order prohibiting Luis Rubiales from approaching within 200 meters of Mrs. Hermoso and communicating with her for the next seven and a half years.
If convicted and sentenced as requested by the prosecutor, he would not necessarily have to go to prison.
The Spanish Penal Code allows judges to “exceptionally” suspend prison sentences if, as in this case, none of the sentences imposed individually exceed two years.
Luis Rubiales has been named in another corruption investigation that rocked the RFEF last week, when police raided the federation’s headquarters and an apartment he owned, arresting seven people.
A Spanish court has been investigating since June 2022 whether Luis Rubiales committed a crime of improper management when the RFEF agreed with the Kosmos firm of former Barcelona player Gerard Piqué to transfer the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia, a judicial source then told Reuters.
He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and told newspaper El Español that he would cooperate with the investigation.
A judicial source said his lawyers told the judge he would return from the Dominican Republic on April 6.
Reuters
