The Spanish prosecutors are pursuing a two-year-and-six-month prison sentence for Chief Luis Rubiales, the former soccer boss. He is accused of giving an unwanted kiss to star forward Jennifer Hermoso after Spain’s World Cup victory.
The Public Ministry has formally charged Rubiales, the disgraced former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), with sexual assault for kissing Hermoso “without consent or acceptance,” according to documents reviewed by CNN.
The televised kiss overshadowed Spain’s women’s team’s historic moment, as they celebrated their first-ever World Cup win. Rubiales, then president of the RFEF, kissed Hermoso on the lips and then slapped her twice on the back, sparking immediate global outcry over consent.
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The governing body of the world football (FIFA) initially suspended Rubiales but eventually resigned after weeks of refusing to step down.
Rubiales described the kiss as “mutual,” a claim strongly denied by Hermoso. He asserted that he is facing “excessive persecution” from authorities.
In addition to the prison term, prosecutors have requested a two-year supervised release, a four-year ban on communicating with Hermoso, or approaching within 200 meters of her, and a compensation of $54,100.
Furthermore, prosecutors have accused former Spain women’s soccer coach Jorge Vilda, national team director Albert Luque, and RFEF marketing director Rubén Rivera of allegedly pressuring Hermoso to justify the kiss. All four men are also requested to compensate Hermoso with an additional $54,100.
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However, the incident also ignited a discussion about the prevalence of “macho culture” in Spain, a country that has seen significant protests against sexual violence and sexism in recent years.