Spanish prosecutors filed sexual assault and coercion lawsuit against disgraced FA president Luis Rubiales over Jenni Hermoso’s kiss after World Cup victory
- Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women’s World Cup
- If found guilty of sexual assault, he could face up to four years behind bars
- Prosecutors said Rubiales also could have committed an act of coercion
Spanish prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against Luis Rubiales for assault and coercion for kissing a player on the lips without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final, the country’s prosecutor’s office said Friday.
Rubiales, the now-suspended president of the Spanish Football Federation, kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the awards ceremony after Spain defeated England to win the title on August 20 in Sydney, Australia.
Prosecutors took the case to Spain’s National Court in Madrid, two days after Hermoso formally accused Rubiales of sexual assault.
Under a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could face a fine or prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty of sexual assault.
Prosecutors added Friday that Rubiales could have committed an act of coercion when, according to Hermoso, he pressured her to speak out in her defense immediately after the scandal over his behavior broke.
Luis Rubiales was pictured kissing Jenni Hermoso after last month’s World Cup final – the suspended Spanish FA president has been hit with a lawsuit for sexual assault and coercion
Hermoso (pictured) has claimed the kiss was non-consensual and has filed a formal complaint
Rubiales faces up to four years in prison if convicted of sexual assault
Rubiales has maintained that the kiss was consensual. Hermoso has denied this in statements from her and her players’ union.
Prosecutors have asked the judge that Rubiales appear in court to provide preliminary testimony.
If the National Court judge agrees to hear the case, it would lead to a formal judicial inquiry that will end with a recommendation to dismiss the case or take it to trial.
More to follow