Spanish prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against the head of the country’s Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, accusing him of sexualized violence. If the functionary is found guilty, he faces up to four years in prison.
What’s happened?
Rubiales got into a scandal by kissing Spain national team player Jennifer Hermoso after winning the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. This happened during the award ceremony, when the official could not restrain himself and kissed the football player right on the lips.
The official’s excessive joy shocked many, including the football player herself. In a broadcast from the locker room, she commented on the kiss like this: “I didn’t like it, but what could I do?”
Later, Rubiales came into the locker room and made things worse. He said that the federation paid for the team’s trip to Ibiza, and then joked in a peculiar way that he would marry Hermoso there.
![That same kiss on the lips That same kiss on the lips](http://southampton.top/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/6ac6fcc92d2b641d185b529cd7c72a1a_cropped_640x360.jpg)
How did the football authorities react to the kiss?
FIFA officials suspended Rubiales for 90 days as they opened a disciplinary investigation. The official said he had made a mistake but refused to resign from his post. Then the national team players announced a boycott until Rubiales left his post. And after a couple of weeks he was ready to make a decision — saying that he could not continue to perform his duties.
Now Rubiales may become a defendant in a criminal case. The Spanish prosecutor’s office filed a lawsuit against the functionary, accusing him of sexualized violence — for a kiss on the lips without consent.
![Rubiales celebrated the victory wildly Rubiales celebrated the victory wildly](http://southampton.top/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/10188654dc96885b74c533e58038d980_cropped_666x375.jpg)
The lawsuit was filed in the Spanish National Court in Madrid. Under a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could face a fine or one to four years in prison if convicted.
Rubiales kissed the soccer player on August 20, and prosecutors began a preliminary investigation on August 28. But for the criminal prosecution of Rubiales, a statement from the football player was required — it was received on September 6.
What does the victim of violence say?
Hermoso said she was “the victim of an impulsive, sexist, inappropriate act without any consent on her part.” Rubiales is now prohibited from attempting to contact the girl or her relatives.
After the scandal, the head coach of the Spanish national team, Jorge Wilda, who supported Rubiales and led the team to victory, lost his position. The kiss received publicity: Rubiales was criticized at the UN and even the country’s prime minister expressed dissatisfaction with the official’s actions.
![The victim has not forgiven Rubiales The victim has not forgiven Rubiales](http://southampton.top/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/b09446a1784c4a047f4982a72bd058a9_cropped_666x333.png)
Mom is fighting for the functionary: on Monday she locked herself in a church in the city of Motril on the Mediterranean coast near Granada and went on a hunger strike. She says that a “bloody and inhumane hunt” was announced for her son.