Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales will go on trial Monday for forcibly kissing player Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal ceremony. Prosecutors seek a 2.5-year prison sentence—one year for sexual assault and 18 months for allegedly pressuring Hermoso to downplay the incident.
The trial, running until February 19, will be held at the National Court near Madrid, with Rubiales set to testify on February 12. He denies wrongdoing, calling the kiss a harmless celebration.
Alongside Rubiales, former women’s team coach Jorge Vilda and two ex-federation officials face charges of coercion, with prosecutors seeking 18-month jail terms for them.
The scandal, which erupted after Spain’s World Cup victory, led to Rubiales’ resignation in September 2023. A Netflix documentary revealed that Hermoso was pressured to portray the kiss as a moment of joy.
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