Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation, has been summoned to appear in court on Friday in connection with an investigation into a forced kiss he planted on Jenni Hermoso’s lips after the Women’s World Cup final.
A Madrid court issued the summons, requiring Rubiales to appear before an examining magistrate at 1200 local time (1000 GMT) as an accused party, responding to accusations of “sexual assault,” stemming from the controversial kiss.
This move comes after Judge Francisco de Jorge of the National Court accepted a complaint against Rubiales filed by Spanish prosecutors the previous week. The complaint includes alleged “crimes of sexual assault” and “coercion.”
The incident in question occurred following Spain’s victory in Sydney on August 20, with Hermoso asserting that the kiss was non-consensual, while Rubiales maintains the opposite viewpoint.
Spain’s recent reform of its penal code categorises a non-consensual kiss as sexual assault, encompassing various forms of sexual violence.
Penalties for such actions can range from fines to up to four years in prison, as confirmed by public prosecutors’ sources.
Despite stepping down as president of the Spanish Football Federation on Sunday, Rubiales continues to defend himself regarding the incident. In an open letter, he expressed his belief in the truth and his determination to ensure it prevails.
Jenni Hermoso, 33, who plays for the Mexican club Pachuca, has characterised the unwanted kiss as leaving her feeling “vulnerable and like the victim of an assault.”
Her social media statement labelled it “an impulsive, macho act, out of place, and with no type of consent on my part.”
Additionally, she accused Rubiales of pressuring her to publicly support his defence immediately following the kiss controversy, which prosecutors suggest could be considered a crime of coercion.
