Madrid: Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales will stand trial for unsolicited kissing of national team player Jenni Hermoso after a High Court judge admitted the case, the Madrid announced court Wednesday.
Rubiales faces one count of sexual assault and one count of coercion for his alleged actions following the kiss. The offenses carry prison sentences of one year and 18 months respectively.
The High Court announced that it would also try the former coach of the women’s national team, Jorge Vilda, the team’s current sporting director, Albert Luque, and the federation’s marketing manager, Ruben Rivera. All three are accused of coercing Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.
Rubiales, 46, grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the lips last August 20 at the awards ceremony after Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory in Sydney, making global headlines and provoking a national debate in Spain on sexism.
Hermoso and her teammates said the kiss was unwanted and humiliating, but Rubiales maintained it was consensual and denied any wrongdoing.
The court set bail at 65,000 euros ($69,836) for the sexual assault charge brought by Rubiales and an additional 65,000 euros to be posted jointly between Rubiales, Vilda, Luque and Rivera for the coercion charge.
The case falls within the jurisdiction of the High Court because the alleged offenses took place overseas.
