PROPERTY SEARCH

Date Published: 18/06/2024

Date set for Luis Rubiales court case over Jenni Hermoso World Cup kiss

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

The former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation could face two years in prison for sexual assault and coercion

Date set for Luis Rubiales court case over Jenni Hermoso World Cup kiss

Luis Rubiales, former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), will be tried in court for his apparently non-consensual kiss of Spanish football player Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup final back on August 20, 2023.

Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the mouth during the medal presentation ceremony of the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney following Spain’s win against England, and the images of the kiss somewhat overshadowed the sporting achievement at the time.

A court date has been set for February 3, 2025. The trial will last for 11 days, until February 19.

Rubiales is charged with one count of sexual assault and another of coercion. The prosecution are requesting a sentence of 2 years and 6 months in prison for Rubiales, who has already assured the Audiencia Nacional that the kiss was consensual.

CASO RUBIALES I El juicio contra Luis Rubiales por el beso a Jenny se celebrará en febrero de 2025 https://t.co/7Z9vogl3tk pic.twitter.com/F5lPaYbDr7
— IUSPORT (@iusport) June 17, 2024

The trial will be held at the National Court in the Madrid town of San Fernando de Henares. The prosecution against Luis Rubiales is made up of the Public Prosecutor's Office, the prosecution of Jenni Hermoso herself and the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE).

In addition to over two years in prison, the lawyers representing Jenni Hermoso are asking for Rubiales to be banned from coming within 500 metres of her or communicating with her for 8 years and a compensation of 50,000 euros in civil liability, and a further 50,000 euros to be paid to the other defendants (Albert Luque, Jorge Vilda and Ruben Rivera).

The prosecution describes in its statement of conclusions Rubiales' conduct as “surprising and without consent or acceptance” of Jenni Hermoso when, during the World Cup medal ceremony, he “held her head” with both hands and “kissed her on the lips”.

In addition, she also accuses him of “constantly” pressuring her to “justify and approve” the kiss that he planted on her “against her will” in view of “the personal and professional consequences” that he could face.

Rubiales also faces separate charges of alleged financial corruption during the five years that he was head of the RFEF.

Image: RFEF

Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox

Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)