The former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation will stand trial for kissing a female player during a World Cup medal ceremony.
Luis Rubiales resigned from his position after weeks of uproar over his treatment of Jenni Hermosa. During the August ceremony, Rubiales hugged Hermosa on stage after she received her medal then – after a brief conversation – he wrapped his hands around the player’s head and kissed her on the mouth.
State prosecutors have accused Rubiales of sexual assault.
The judge who investigated the incident following the public backlash announced on Jan. 25 that the case against Rubiales can go to trial. National Court Judge Francisco de Jorge said there was evidence that the kiss was not consensual.
“The investigation has revealed the existence of solid evidence that the kiss to the player Jennifer Hermoso, which is described in the facts of this order, was a unilateral and surprising initiative of the investigated Luis Manuel Rubiales Bejar,” the judge wrote in a statement, per The Athletic.
The judge has also suggested that former Spain women’s team manager Jorge Vilda, ex-Spanish Football Federation marketing manager Ruben Rivera, and Spanish Football Federation men’s national team director Albert Luque be tried as well for allegedly pressuring Hermosa to publicly defend Rubiales.
Hermosa’s position on the incident has shifted over time. Initially, the 33-year-old told Spain’s La 1 that she “did not enjoy” Rubiales’s action. She later told COPE that the kiss was “no big deal.”
"It was a mutual, totally spontaneous gesture because of the huge joy of winning a World Cup," she said, per Fox News. "The 'presi' and I have a great relationship. His behavior with us has been a '10.' It was a natural gesture, of affection and gratitude ... We've won a World Cup, and we won't get away from what's important."
AP News reported in late August that Hermosa “considered herself the victim of abuse of power and accused the Spanish soccer federation of trying to pressure her into supporting Rubiales.”
Rubiales released a video apology on Aug. 21 calling the kiss “a mistake.”
“In a moment of such emotion, without any bad intention or bad faith, what happened, happened, in a very spontaneous way,” he said. “Here we saw it as something natural and normal. But on the outside it has caused a stir, because people have felt hurt by it, so I have to apologize; there’s no alternative.”
He refused to resign at a meeting on Aug. 25 and was suspended by FIFA on Aug. 27 for 90 days pending disciplinary investigation. Protests denouncing Rubiales were held in Madrid, where hundreds of people demanded his firing.
Rubiales ultimately resigned from his position on Sept. 10.
